History of WWU Participation in Bellingham's

Waterfront Development

Initial Campus Process

Late in 2002 the City and Port of Bellingham joined forces to begin studying the potential of redeveloping Bellingham's waterfront by forming the Waterfront Futures Group. During the March 18, 2004 Board of Trustees meeting, then President Karen Morse distributed a document developed by the group that introduced the proposal for an off-campus site of Western Washington University. Later that spring, an Academic Waterfront Planning Committee was appointed to discuss whether and how WWU might participate in the proposed development on the waterfront.  

The committee began by drafting principles to guide campus discussion.  During fall quarter 2004, the committee solicited reactions to the principles and ideas for possible waterfront projects, and held forums to encourage and inform input.  Brief pre-proposals were solicited by the committee to gain a better idea of the range of programs or functions that might be pursued, with an initial submission deadline of April 15, 2005.  These were brief conceptual proposals, consistent with the Guiding Principles.

Twenty five pre-proposals were submitted. These proposals were received from individuals, groups, departments, colleges, and interdisciplinary groups for programs and projects that might feasibly be located on the waterfront.  Two forums in May 2005 provided an opportunity for public review and discussion of the pre-proposals.  

In 2006 Western confirmed the waterfront as a location for possible expansion in its 2006 Strategic Action Plan

On August 8, 2008 Western's Board of Trustees approved the development of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement between WWU and the Port of Bellingham that allows for the creation of a "development entity." Following Western's August 8 meeting, Commissioners from the Port of Bellingham unanimously approved the development entity at their August 19 meeting. Learn more about the Viking Development Entity here:

• Viking Development Entity

A little under one year later a draft Character Study Report was presented to WWU's Board of Trustees at their June 12, 2009 meeting. The Character Study continues to be a work in progress as programmatic decisions are made regarding the waterfront.

In early 2009 a smaller waterfront planning group was created out of the larger Academic Waterfront Committee. This group's goal has been to approach the project in phases with a narrowed academic programming focus. Visit the main waterfront page to learn about these phases.

 

To learn how WWU's participation in Bellingham's Waterfront Development all began, and to see how the project has evolved overtime, view the below links.

• March 18, 2004 Board of Trustees "Future of the University" Report
• Preliminary Proposals
• Solicitation of Preliminary Proposals for WWU Waterfront Facility Consideration
• June 10, 2005 Board of Trustees Endorsement of Waterfront Planning
• October 17, 2005 Progress Letter from former President Karen W. Morse
• Guiding Principles for WWU's Consideration of Proposals

Board Actions

• Board of Trustees Minutes, Reports and Actions

Waterfront Site

• WWU's potential location
• Proximity of site to campus

Waterfront Committee

• Waterfront Committee Members

Links to Past Forums & Presentations

• 2008
  • March 11, 2008 Campus Forum
  • Former President Karen Morse's April 15, 2008 presentation to the Port's Board of Commissioners -- Creating an Intermediary Authority
• 2007
  • November 1, 2007 Campus Forum
  • March 13, 2007 Campus Forum Presentation
  • Stratus report of Phase II and IIA (pdf)
  • Former President Karen Morse's May 6, 2007 presentation to the Bellingham City Council (pdf)
• 2005 & 2006 Forums
• 2004 Forum

Because development of Bellingham's waterfront is a long term project, the committee is willing to receive proposals for future consideration as ideas are developed. 

Comments and questions concerning the principles and processes may be directed to Steve Swan, Vice Preident for University Relations.