Bellingham Neighborhoods
ALABAMA HILL: Click for Homes for Sale and Map
This neighborhood is perched at the top of Alabama Hill and is home to Alabama Street, the steep arterial most people take to get to Lake Whatcom from the city. Many residents in the Alabama neighborhood have views of the Lake Whatcom or the city, depending on which side of the hill they live. On the north side of the neighborhood, sidewalk-lined streets wind around the crest of the hill and the well-kept yards in front of large homes built in the 50's, 60's and 70's. The south side of the neighborhood has a less-planned feel, with older houses and no sidewalks but similarly spectacular views. Alabama Hill also provides easy access to the interurban trail system, giving residents walk-ability to Barkley Village to the north, and Whatcom Falls Park to the south. Alabama Hill schools are Roosevelt Elementary, Whatcom Middle School, and Bellingham High School. Although the top of the hill on the north side cuts into Silverbeach elementary and Squalicum High school lines.
BIRCHWOOD: See Homes for Sale and Map
This family-oriented neighborhood boasts large, deep lots - many of which were once small farms on the edge of the city - with single-family homes, apartment complexes, three public schools, a grocery store, The Bellingham Golf and Country Club, numerous shopping centers, a park, churches and ready access to Bellingham Bay.
The neighborhood is on the northwest side of town and has wide streets and many tree-covered lots. Shopping areas on Northwest Avenue and Meridian Street offer a variety of retailers and restaurants, and Bellis Fair Mall is a five-minute drive away.
Squalicum Creek borders the neighborhood, giving kids a place to ride bike trails without leaving the neighborhood. Bellingham Technical College, Birchwood Elementary School and Shuksan Middle School are all within neighborhood boundaries, making trips to school relatively easy.
CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT (Downtown)
Spurred by a civic interest in redevelopment, portions of the Central Business District are undergoing rapid change after years of commercial idleness - with big plans for the future. The downtown area will see big change with the Bellingham waterfront project
underway. I have been blogging updates on the project at the Granary Building and nearby park, which both should be open to the public in 2018. Downtown is home to many apartment complex's and condominium projects.
COLUMBIA: Click here for Map and Homes For Sale
The second oldest neighborhood in Bellingham, the Columbia neighborhood is a quiet, mostly residential haven. Situated on a bluff above Bellingham Bay, the neighborhood boasts several tree-lined streets, turn-of-the-century homes and multiple parks.The portion of the neighborhood nearest the bay includes many homes recognized by the Eldridge Historical Society. Plaques bearing the names of original owners and years the homes were built hang by the front doors of many of these homes. The northern portion of the neighborhood consists of wider streets and newer developments, mostly from the mid-1900s.
Columbia Elementary School sits in the middle of the neighborhood, serving the many children in the family-friendly community. Elizabeth Park covers two city blocks and has stately trees, a restored water fountain, tennis courts, a playground, and large, open grassy areas. Some of the historic homes that surround Elizabeth Park are some of the most expensive and highly desired real estate in the Columbia neighborhood. The smaller Carl Lobe Park and Lorraine Ellis Parks also offer playgrounds and lawns.
CORNWALL PARK: Click here for Map and Homes For Sale
The Cornwall Park neighborhood is best known for its namesake - a large, forested park that contains a playground, baseball fields, spray water park, trails, hills, horseshoe pits, tennis courts, picnic shelters and a Frisbee golf course. The combination of open fields and forested hills makes the park a great place for outdoor outings.
EDGEMOOR: Click here for Map and Homes for Sale
Edgemoor is located on the semi-peninsula in the far southwestern corner of Bellingham, and boasts some of the largest, best-maintained houses and lots in the city. Pride of Ownership line the large one and two-story homes. Located on top of a hill, the Edgemoor neighborhood boasts views of Bellingham Bay and Chuckanut Bay along the long western border. The population consists mostly of retirees, empty nesters, and families and homes on large lots and open spaces.
A quiet neighborhood, Edgemoor's crime rate is lower than only Whatcom Falls, having very few burglaries, car thefts or misdemeanors. Many people walk along the wide streets, though there are no sidewalks through most of the neighborhood. Fairhaven Park is a short distance for Edgemoor neighbors to either walk or travel to. Clark's Point is another area worth noting with it's naturally preserved and nicely treed with tall evergreens and cedar trees.
FAIRHAVEN: See Map and Search Fairhaven Condos and Homes For Sale by clicking here.
This historic neighborhood is located on the south side of town along Bellingham Bay. One of the original four towns that merged to create Bellingham in 1903 - along with Bellingham, Whatcom and Sehome - the district maintains an independent spirit. Fairhaven's 600 residents live in single-family homes, apartment buildings, and condominium complexes. They can walk to many services, including a grocery store, bookstore, shops, the Fairhaven Village Green, and the Fairhaven Public Library.
At the commercial center of Fairhaven is the Fairhaven National Register Historic District, home to 17 beautiful historic buildings. Many infill buildings, designed to be compatible with local history, have been built in the last several years. The historic and new buildings have provided many local businesses that serve neighbors and folks throughout the Pacific Northwest.
The Alaska Marine Ferry docks twice a week in Fairhaven at the Transportation Center, which also houses the Amtrak Station and Greyhound Bus depot
This is one of the most expensive and sought after areas to live in Bellingham.
GUIDE MERIDIAN: Click here for Map and Homes and Condos For Sale
Stretching north and west of the Meridian neighborhood, the Guide Meridian neighborhood is an area of major expansion. The Cordata portion of the neighborhood was originally developed as a suburban business park, with greenbelts and tree-lined streets. Over time, the area has changed to include a significant residential component (the number of total homes in the neighborhood is now over 2,000).
HAPPY VALLEY: Click here for Map and Homes For Sale
College students and the elderly, families and bachelors, homes and apartment buildings, residential and commercial - this densely populated neighborhood is incredibly diverse.
Smaller homes are positioned closely together on smaller lots and large apartment complexes surround Western Washington University's campus. Many of the larger houses have been converted into duplexes and one portion rented out to college students.
There are families living here as well and their childrengo to the three public schools in the neighborhood: Larrabee and Happy Valley Elementary Schools, and Sehome High School.
A large section of the Happy Valley Neighborhood is reserved as the Connelly Creek Nature Area, and the Connelly Creek trail runs the length of the neighborhood.
The Fairhaven business district is close by, and Sehome Village and the Viking Plaza provide many shopping amenities.
LETTERED STREETS: Search Homes for Sale and see Map
To live in the Lettered Streets neighborhood, it helps to memorize which direction the many one-way streets run. Located in the valley between the Columbia neighborhood and downtown, the Lettered Streets neighborhood was one of the first areas people settled in Bellingham. Constructed for the most part in the late 1890's and early 1900's, the neighborhood was established as a middle-class community adjacent to the city's downtown district. Non-residential structures built during the same era of the early 1900's also contribute to the historic character of the neighborhood.
MOUNT BAKER: Click here for Map and Homes for Sale
The Mount Baker neighborhood is one of the fastest growing residential areas of Bellingham, offering sweeping views of the city and Bellingham Bay from atop Barkley Boulevard on the north side of town. The Barkley Village area is designated as a "priority urban village" in the City's comprehensive plan. This area will continue to develop with a mix of residential, commercial and light industrial land uses providing jobs and services. Key open space features include the Squalicum and Baker Creek corridors, Sunset Pond, and the 50-acre Northridge Park. The "Bay to Baker" trail system will traverse the neighborhood roughly along the Squalicum Creek corridor.
PUGET: Click here for Map and Homes for Sale
If you don't want to leave your neighborhood for anything, Puget may be the place to live. Just off of Lakeway street, Puget street is still biking distance to downtown, and walking distance to shopping center, trails, and Whatcom Falls. South of Whatcom Creek and east of Interstate 5, the Puget Neighborhood is a study in diversity. The neighborhood is bracketed by industrial uses on the north and commercial uses to the west along Lakeway Drive and Lincoln streets. The neighborhood recently received a boost, with the renovation of the Lakeway Shopping Plaza and the addition of Whole Foods. Single and multi-family residential areas are located on the south and east portions of the neighborhood.
Civic Athletic Complex, the most active park and recreation facility in the city, is located at the north edge of the neighborhood. A trail link from the park to the Whatcom Creek Trail will provide improved access to this facility from other neighborhoods. Schools include Carl Cozier Elementary, Kulshan Middle School, and Sehome High.
ROOSEVELT: Click here for Map and Homes for Sale
Once regarded as the most dangerous place to live in Bellingham, this diverse neighborhood is making major improvements with a lower crime rate, a new Boys and Girls Club, improved parks and plans to create a community center. Land use ranges from single-family residential to industrial. There are concentrations of old and new housing units. Styles vary from 100-year old single family homes to modern apartment complexes. Though styles vary houses and apartments in the Roosevelt Neighborhood are generally well maintained. The gentle slope along the northern boundary of the neighborhood creates properties with pleasing views of Bellingham and the Bay to the west. Over 6,000 residents (9% of total city population) make Roosevelt the most populous neighborhood in the city.
SAMISH: Click here for Homes for Sale and Map
The Samish neighborhood is tucked away from much of the city, east of Interstate 5 and on the southern end of Bellingham. It a very desirable location for many that are looking for a rural setting, but also want to remain close to I-5 access.
Lake Padden Park is a citywide attraction with playground, picnic shelters, softball fields, non-motorized boating, fishing, miles of trails, and 18 hole golf course. In the Samish Neighborhood, there are values associated with amenities of the Samish Crest Greenway corridor including scenic views, the wooded backdrop for the area, plant and animal life, the relief from crowding, and the recreational opportunities afforded by the land.
SEHOME: Click for Map and Home for Sale
The neighborhood next to Western Washington University atop Sehome Hill is home to an eclectic mixture of retirees, college students and families.
ts physical location on Sehome Hill is a big part of the Sehome Neighborhood's character. Sehome Hill is a steep bedrock formation rising 650 feet from Bellingham Bay with a northeasterly bearing series of ridges reflecting the underlying rock formations. While there are relatively level "bench" areas without views, much of this neighborhood has excellent views of Bellingham to the north, over Bellingham Bay, or toward Mount Baker in the east. Sehome is also one of Bellingham's older neighborhoods. Much of the area is within the former Town of Sehome, one of several towns, which consolidated near the turn of the century to become the City of Bellingham. Over 80 percent of the housing in the Sehome Neighborhood is over 20 years old, and much of it is at least 50 years old
SILVER BEACH: Click here for Homes For Sale and Map
Lake Whatcom is the main drawing point of this sprawling neighborhood. The neighborhood has miles of shoreline along Lake Whatcom, which provides beautiful views, tremendous recreational opportunities, and a unique setting. Over 3,000 Bellingham residents are proud to call this neighborhood home.
Located on Lake Whatcom, 20-acre Bloedel Donovan Park is one of the most popular parks in the city. The park provides boating access to the lake, swimming area, playground, basketball and volley ball courts, open play field, a multi-purpose building with gymnasium and meeting rooms, a smaller building for meetings and classes, and a pre-school.
SOUTH: Click here for Map and Homes for Sale
The South neighborhood is about as close as the city comes to a pastoral lifestyle. Most homes sit on large lots, sometimes large enough for horses, and the area is heavily wooded. Much of the neighborhood has been left undeveloped to allow for trails up Chuckanut Mountain and through Arroyo Park. Chuckanut Village perhaps epitomizes the historical character of the area with the image of a small, secluded Puget Sound fishing village. Fairhaven Park and Rose Garden is a city park within the South Neighborhood which is highly valued by the residents of this and adjacent neighborhoods, as well as by citizens throughout Bellingham. Located on Padden Creek, this 17-acre area is part of the city's heritage of community parks.
Chuckanut Mountain rises steeply from Chuckanut Creek in the southernmost part of the neighborhood. Chuckanut Bay is another resource within the neighborhood, which is an historic site as well as a unique natural recreational resource of city wide significance. There are also several water bodies within the neighborhood, which are used and valued by residents
SOUTH HILL: Click here for Homes for Sale and Map
Situated between Western Washington University and Bellingham Bay, the South Hill neighborhood boasts some of the more elegant historic homes in Bellingham, as well as schools and churches. Boulevard Park on Bellingham Bay is on of the most popular parks in the city. The newly constructed Taylor Street Dock, south of Boulevard Park, provides an opportunity for strolling and viewing harbor activity for the South Hill Neighborhood residents who have indicated high values for these activities. The highly valued Lowell Elementary School is also an attractive location for neighborhood activity.
SUNNYLAND: Click here for Homes for Sale and Map
The Sunnyland neighborhood is a diverse mix of residential and commercial developments. Popular for it's charm, short proximity to downtown, and now home to the Trader Joe's shopping center! This neighborhood, home to over 2,200 Bellingham residents, also includes open space and play fields at the reconstructed Bellingham High School, Sunnyland Park, Sunnyland Elementary School and adjacent Memorial Park.
WESTERN WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY: Click here for Homes and Condos for Sale and Map
The Western Washington University neighborhood encompasses the campus of one of the state's most popular four-year public universities, with about 13,000 students enrolled this fall.
The Western Washington University Neighborhood contains open space, which is easily accessible to students, staff and visitors. Formal open spaces owned and operated by Western include the Old Main Quad, Red Square, the Fairhaven Courtyard, the Performing Arts Center Plaza, and the Haskell Plaza. Natural open spaces include the Outback Wetland south of Fairhaven College, Sehome Hill Arboretum, and the Bird Sanctuary knoll between Old Main and the Viking Union. Sehome Hill Arboretum provides areas for academic study, trails for recreation and commuting, and a major green/open space which serves the broader community.
WHATCOM FALLS:
This neighborhood is lightly populated but offers what is arguably the best park in the city. The park offers many trails that wind along Whatcom Creek, a sandstone bridge from yesteryear with a stunning view of Whatcom Falls, a fishing area for kids under 12, tennis courts, playground picnic areas, two different entrances and so much more. The park also features a trout hatchery run by the Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife. A large part of this park's 240 acres is forested in a natural state and there's also a more traditional, parked out area as well.
YORK: Click here for Homes for Sale and Map
Located in the heart of Bellingham, the York neighborhood is close to many amenities including parks, downtown shopping and Interstate 5. York is one of the smallest neighborhoods in size, but is very compact with about 80% of the area consisting of single family homes. The York neighborhood is one of the best places in Bellingham to view maple trees that line the neighborhood streets. This is a great place to take a walk and enjoy the City of Bellingham's historic past. York includes a mix of families and student rentals.
