When Will it Happen?
Phase 1
Phase 1 is open and fully occupied as of July 2024. Mercy Housing NW owns and operates the 83-unit permanently affordable apartments and owns the Early Learning and Childcare Center, which is leased and operated by the Whatcom Family YMCA.
Phase 2
Phase 2 is currently in design development with plans to be under construction Q3/Q4 2026 and open in 2028. We are in discussions with multiple potential commercial tenants. Operations and program plan development for the five functional areas of the project are also underway.
Where Will it Be?
The Port of Bellingham is redeveloping 237 acres on Bellingham’s central waterfront, which sits on the traditional lands of the Coast Salish peoples who continue to live on and steward the land and waters of Whatcom County. More recently, a pulp and tissue mill occupied the site for industrial use.
The Millworks occupies a 3.3-acre site at the northeast edge of the district, which is part of one of three federally designated Opportunity Zones in Whatcom County. Millworks Phase 1 is the first completed new construction and the first residential building completed as part of the waterfront redevelopment and serves as a catalyst for more projects in the district, setting a standard for quality and the bar for what is possible.
The site is adjacent to downtown Bellingham, close to services and jobs. Whatcom Transit Authority already has an active bus line through the district, helping residents establish foundational transportation habits that include public transit.
