From left: Andrew Calkins, Executive Director of the Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing Authorities; Washington State Sen. Sharon Shewmake; Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund; Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu; David Dologite, Managing Director of Community Investments at Merritt Community Capital Corporation; and BWCHA board commissioners Ann Beck and Ashley Thomasson break ground at the Unity Street Redevelopment groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (Photo: Whatcom County Government)
BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Bellingham housing officials and local leaders broke ground Tuesday, Nov. 3, on a new downtown development that will add 64 affordable workforce housing units near the city’s downtown core.
The Unity Street Redevelopment will transform the former Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing Authorities (BWCHA) office property near the intersection of Unity and Flora streets into affordable homes for individuals and families.
The project will serve households earning between 30% and 60% of the area median income (AMI). Developers also plan to dedicate a portion of the apartments to people with disabilities.
Whatcom County Executive Satpal Sidhu joined Tuesday’s ceremony and highlighted the county’s $1 million economic development investment in the project.
The development also brings together federal, state and local partners, along with private and community investment organizations.
Among those attending the Nov. 3 ceremony were Andrew Calkins, executive director of BWCHA; Washington state Sen. Sharon Shewmake; Bellingham Mayor Kim Lund; Sidhu; David Dologite, managing director of community investments at Merritt Community Capital Corporation; and BWCHA board commissioners Ann Beck and Ashley Thomasson.
Affordable housing for downtown Bellingham
The Unity Street project will provide housing options for a range of low-income households, including individuals and families who struggle to find affordable homes in Whatcom County.
BWCHA set the income eligibility range at 30% to 60% of AMI. Based on 2025 figures, that range equates to approximately $26,040 to $52,080 in annual income for a two-person household.
The redevelopment will replace the housing authority’s former administrative offices with residential units, adding income-restricted housing near downtown Bellingham.
In May 2025, BWCHA listed 63 affordable homes in its project plans and anticipated construction would begin in 2026. The authority also projected that residents could begin moving into the development in 2028.
The Nov. 3 groundbreaking marks a major step toward bringing the new housing development to downtown Bellingham.
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