Fairhaven in a state of flux
Fairhaven, located in Bellingham, Washington has to make some tough decisions. I am familiar with the non-growth issues Fairhaven is continually dealing with. No Chuckanut Ridge Development signs are visible everywhere for example. The community of Fairhaven has a valid concern about over populating an very small segment of Bellingham. I saw some of this earlier in Laguna Beach California. Laguna set some strict standards such as: no neon signs within the city (just wooden signs allowed), a green belt set permanently aside with no developments allowed in the foothills, and other well though out growth planning. As this area exploded (this was over 25 years ago) the rest of the cities without these standards, look like any other city: lots of concrete and signs everywhere, lots of chain shopping, tract homes...not what we want our area to look like.
So, what are the decisions we as a city and the Fairhaven as a district need to think about? Some questions that go through my mind are:
Why is Fairhaven so popular?
"Proximity to the water", is what I hear mostly. "Good restaurants and trails". "Nice look to the architecture-old turn of the century look", now mandated within the district. "Cute area". "Friendly people".
How can we expand this popularity to other districts? Why would we as a community want to?
This theme concept was first created by Ken Imus. I already do see a ripple effect throughout the city in some newer shopping districts such as Barkley Village. I think this vintage theme will continue to expand as we continue to build. The downtown Georgia Pacific waterfront redevelopment will certainly be the 'new Fairhaven' as it progresses.
Fairhaven turn of the century buildings
Why would we want to?
Cute, friendly communities continue to enhance our quality of life, unclutter one district and make quality housing within Bellingham more affordable. Real estate in Fairhaven is way too off the grid of affordablility in my opinion. Some waterview condos are now priced at just under 2 million dollars! Supply and demand dictates that if there is more supply (other areas springing up with some of the same features of Fairhaven) then the price will become more affordable.
We cannot expect this to happen without community involvement at a level such as was the case in Laguna Beach. They have withstood the test of time.