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Tower planned for downtown Bellingham
The owners of Bay View Tower, LLC, who reside in Whatcom and Skagit counties, recently announced plans to build the tallest residential condominium tower between Seattle and Canada. Located in downtown Bellingham, Bay View Tower will rise 20 stories, featuring 100 residential condominium homes as well as street-level retail space.
Conceptual drawings depict a slender and elegant tower, situated on a former Diamond Parking lot near the intersection of State and Holly streets. Construction is expected to begin by summer 2006, with completion anticipated in early 2008. “Bay View Tower is a response to what is already happening in our community,” said Dennis Dashiell, one of the project owners. “We are growing up, but that doesn’t mean we should keep growing out. We want to safeguard our agricultural heritage and open spaces and we can do that through urban infill.” Bay View Tower will, among other things, include a vegetated greenbelt rooftop, ride share planning, and energy-efficient lighting systems. The company is also working to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification. “It’s about the views and the urban lifestyle,” added Markéta Vorel, also with Bay View Tower. “Bellingham is a spectacular place to live already, but the ongoing waterfront redevelopment will make it a world class destination. This is an idea whose time has come.”
Allen to sell San Juan property
Paul Allen has put the smaller of his San Juan Island properties up for sale for $25 million.
The 292-acre island is west of Anacortes and has been virtually uninhabited since Allen purchased it in 1992.
Walley Gudgell of Gudgell Properties LLC will handle the transaction. Gudgell was the original real estate agent who sold Allen his other San Juan property on Lopez Island. That purchase angered neighbors because the $8 million sale displaced a kids’ summer camp.
Allen decided to keep the Lopez property and sell his smaller island location.
Small business still driving U.S. economy
America’s small businesses continue to drive the U.S. economy, according to the updated 2005 Small Business FAQ, released recently by the Office of Advocacy at the U.S. Small Business Administration. “The 2005 Small Business FAQ is a great resource for small business people, policymakers, and anyone interested in how small business drives our economy,” said Dr. Chad Moutray, Chief Economist for the Office of Advocacy. He added, “These statistics paint a compelling picture of just how important small business is to America. They show that small businesses are America’s job-creators, innovators, and the path to mainstream economic activity for all segments of our society.”
The updated 2005 Small Business FAQ revealed:
• Small businesses represent 99.7 percent of all employer firms.
• Over the past decade, small business net job creation fluctuated between 60 and 80 percent.
• Small businesses generate more than 50 percent of the non-farm private gross domestic product (GDP).
• Two-thirds of new employer establishments survive at least two years after start-up, and 44 percent survive at least four years.
• In 2004, an estimated 580,900 employer firms opened while an estimated 576,200 closed.
• Small businesses employ half of all private sector employees.
• Women own 6.5 million businesses that generate $950.6 billion in revenues, and employ 7.2 million workers.For more information and a complete copy of the 2005 Small Business FAQ, visit the Office of Advocacy website at www.sba.gov/advo.
WorkSource awaits new Mount Vernon facility
Skagit County employment and training providers are moving into the new WorkSource Center at 2021 E. College Way in Mount Vernon. This move comes in preparation for the opening of the newest WorkSource Building at 2005 E. College Way.
Until the new center opens, job-search workshops and orientations on unemployment benefits are being held at the interim location.
“We apologize in advance for any temporary inconvenience to our customers,” Gay Dubigk, executive director of the Northwest Workforce Development Council said. “Skagit County businesses and residents will soon be able to obtain all WorkSource services from one location in the new career center opening this December.”
WorkSource is a “partnership of government agencies, community colleges and nonprofit organizations that offer employment and career services to job seekers and businesses.”At a center, job seekers can use computers, phones, copiers and fax machines; get work referrals and resume help; and attend career workshops and connect with employers. They can search job listings and post their resumes on-line. Job search assistance, occupational training and skill upgrades are also available through WorkSource.Businesses can take advantage of computerized job matching; assistance with recruitment and lay-offs; training on interview techniques and access to professional facilities; and information on wages, training and tax credits to save their business both time and money.
QM Bearings expands with new Ferndale facility
QM Bearings moved in September to a 17,000-square-foot facility at 5345-A LaBounty Road. The company designs, manufactures and markets rugged Blue Brute brand bearings, Quick-Flex brand couplings and conveyor sprockets. Its customers primarily are in the pulp and paper, saw mill, mining, aggregate and steel industries.
QM Bearings reported sales growth of 30 percent in its 2005 fiscal year and expects an additional 20 percent increase in 2006.
“We outgrew our old space,” said Don Yorston, company president. “At our new location, we have nearly twice the space, which enables a more efficient manufacturing configuration and allows extra space for growth.”
To accommodate the growth, QM Bearings will hire three more employees in the next month to join the current 20 employees at the Ferndale office.
QM Bearings was founded in 1951 as a manufacturer of sawmill and logging machinery. The company developed its first bearing because it couldn’t buy bearings rugged enough for its machinery. QM Bearings converted its frustration from buying inadequate products to inspiration for a new bearing design capable of lasting a long time in harsh applications. Its products are sold in over 20 countries.
QM Bearings, which has been in Ferndale since 1997, also has warehouses in Litchfield, Ohio; Prince George, B.C.; and Mississauga, Ontario and serves customers in 20 countries.
Clearwire launches in northwest region
Bellingham and Mount Vernon are only the second markets in Washington to receive Clearwire’s wireless broadband internet service. The service will compete with cable internet and allow customers to have only one internet bill for several different locations. The service comes with a portable modem that plugs into any computer. Once attached the computer has access to the internet airwaves produced by Clearwire’s signal.
Deal signed as 2010 Olympics draw near
Governor Christine Gregoire and British Columbia Premier Gordon Campbell recently signed a cooperative agreement to strengthen relationships between Washington and B.C. with a focus on building opportunities for Washington State business exchange, cultural and educational exchange, tourism, transportation, protecting the environment and business opportunities associated with the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver.
Emerging from a morning meeting with Premier Campbell last month, Governor Gregoire said, “There are limitless opportunities for cooperation between the province and the state. With the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, I am particularly interested in opportunities for Washington state businesses. I have already appointed a 2010 Olympic Games Task Force co-chaired by Congressman Rick Larsen and Sid Morrison. With their leadership we will continue to position Washington businesses to support British Columbia so they may have a successful event.”
Governor Gregoire said discussions with Premier Campbell, although preliminary, are a first step toward a meaningful role for Washington to play in the Olympics. From housing to expedited border crossing to business and technical support, Washington state has much to offer in support of Vancouver as host of the Olympics.
County considers garbage options
Skagit County could be getting the rest of the area’s garbage. Cimarron Transfer and Recycling, a partnership of Ray Sizemore of Anacortes and Norm Wietting of Bellevue, knows there is money in garbage. Their company would, under a new contract agreement, be able to take trash from Island, San Juan and Whatcom counties into their Skagit County facility. This would be in addition to garbage already collected by Waste ManThe two listing services reported 1,016 residential units sold in Bellingham during the first nine months of this year, down nine percent from the same period in 2004. However, the number of sales during that period rose in Blaine/Birch Bay (424 sales, up 18 percent), Sudden Valley (216 sales, up 14 percent), Ferndale (370 sales, up nine percent) and Lynden (210, up three percent).agement in the outlying areas of Skagit County.
Cimarron currently runs a processing facility in Skagit County and would pay an extra $2 for every ton of garbage it brings in.
Cimarron has been in negotiations with Skagit County administrator Gary Rowe. Rowe brought the issue in front of county commissioners last month but they were unable to come to an agreement. They will revisit the issue in the November commission meetings.
Cimarron wants to construct a compos“More inventory will help in limiting the increase in prices,” Johnson said. “It’s also interesting to note that the number of sales have declined in Bellingham, but risen in other local communities.”
Skagit Sewer rebuild
Skagit County Board of Commissioners voted recently to declare Dewey Beach, Yokeko Point and Quiet Cove on Fidalgo Island an “area of special concern” and mandate regular inspections of on-site septic systems.
The commission’s vote was the final step of a community-based, two-year process to replace failing septic tanks, or install them where none existed, along the southern shore of the island east of Deception Pass.
The special designation gives the health department more enforcement power to see that septic inspections take place. But Steve Olsen, an environmental health specialist with the Skagit County Department of Health, said the agency wanted the designation to ensure that the hard work of the community and his office would pay off.
A study by the utility district found that a sewage system would cost about $3.7 million to install and about $80 per house, per month, to maintain. The utility district only received $1 million in grants and could only tax the landowners $1.5 million, leaving a $1.2 million difference.
The Green Barn staying open year-round
Brothers Tim and Dave Burger, who purchased The Green Barn last year, said it is able to stay open this winter because the store’s client base has grown to include customers from throughout Whatcom County and the lower mainland of British Columbia. “We’ll still be able to offer a wide range of fruit and vegetables, including certified organic produce, at better prices than supermarkets,” Dave Burger said.
The Green Barn relies primarily on vendors from Whatcom County, Skagit Valley, Eastern Washington, and British Columbia. Local suppliers include Edaleen Dairy and Victoria’s Gardens of Lynden, Generations Blueberry Farm and Casey’s Coffee of Everson, Barbie’s Berries of Ferndale and Guilmette’s Busy Bees of Bellingham.
Located at 8475 Guide Meridian, The Green Barn opened in 2003 but closed for several months each of the past two winters. Besides produce, it also offers dairy products, fresh flowers, local honey and organic grocery items. The store is adding a Dutch foods section in November.
North Cascades Institute
opens $11.6 million project
Five years after work began on its $11.6 million campus, the North Cascades Institute’s environmental learning center had its grand opening at a dedication ceremony in October.
The North Cascades Institute is a 20-year-old, non-profit environmental education organization that has forged a close relationship with the National Park Service. The institute seeks conservation through education.
The learning center, which opened in July, is a campus of 16 buildings next to Diablo Dam in the North Cascades off Highway 20.
The campus is a product of a re-licensing agreement between the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and Seattle City Light, a public utility that owns and operates three dams on the Skagit River.
Journal shines in industry contest
The San Juan Journal won 17 awards in the Washington Newspaper Publishers’ 2005 Better Newspapers Contest.
According to the paper, “The Journal competes against Washington newspapers with circulations of 5,000 or less; however, in some categories it competed against newspapers in other circulation groups as well. The Colorado Press Association judged the entries and under the general excellence category, commented, “Very warm newspaper, yet still deals in hard news. Writing is to the point and useful; editing is tight.”
Film festival announces final selections
NW Projections Bellingham Film Festival recently announced they had finalized their selections for the 2005 festival, taking place from November 10 to 13. The films will be shown in downtown Bellingham at the Pickford, the Dreamspace, the Wild Buffalo, and the Nightlight Lounge. “Having the highest number of submissions ever is good. Having so many of them being of such high quality is great!” said festival director, Max Kaiser. “Our mandate over the last six years has been to encourage and promote local filmmakers. Judging by the quality and quantity of this year’s films – we are succeeding.”Films were selected from around Washington State, with an emphasis on filmmakers from the Whatcom, Skagit and Island counties.
“This year’s films cover a very broad range of subjects,” said Kaiser. “We do, however, have a lot of scary movies. Some of these are fictional – about people being chased by various ghouls. Others are non-fiction – about what is happening to our local environment. Either way, these aren’t films you’re going to be seeing at the mall any time soon.”
Oak Harbor home to Island’s first Applebee’s
Oak Harbor residents will now be close to an Applebee’s restaurant. Apple American, the parent company of Applebee’s restaurants, has been looking for a location in the Island County area to open one of its casual dining restaurants for the past several years. With the development of the Home Depot shopping center Apple American officials felt they had found the perfect spot.
Apple American has 20 Applebee’s restaurants in the Northwest located from Bellingham to Chehalis.
Headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas, Apple American has over 1,500 hundred restaurants making it one of the world’s largest casual dining restaurant chains.
Massage Associates move
Massage Associates, owned by Becky Masters and Lori Thompson, recently moved to a larger Bellingham office in the Harborview Building at 1111 W. Holly Street, Suite F.
The move enabled Massage Associates to add a third licensed massage practitioner, Jeneen Durand, who is certified in pregnancy massage. The firm is now seeking another health-care professional to further utilize its additional space.
Masters and Thompson each have 10 years of professional experience after graduating from the Seattle Massage School. They combined to create Massage Associates in 2001.
Masters recently became certified to provide LaStone Therapy, which uses heated basalt and chilled marble to relax muscles, release tension and improve circulation. Masters also provides neuromuscular therapy and Lomi Lomi, a traditional Hawaiian massage.
Bellingham company to build bio-diesel plant
Bellingham’s Chemical Consortium Holdings Company has plans to build a bio-diesel plant in the Longview-Cowlitz County area. This will be the first large-scale bio-diesel facility on the West Coast, the company said.
CEO J. Greig said it will be the first project of the holding company.
Construction could begin in March for the first bio-diesel phase. It will cost $62 million and create 22 jobs.
Eventually, the company plans a four-phase project to include ethanol production, Greig said. This project would cost $780 million and create 350 jobs.
Homes flood the market; Prices still soar
The average sale price of a home continues to be at least 20 percent higher than a year ago in Whatcom County’s largest communities, but the number of houses on the market is rising.
For the first nine months of 2005, the average price of a home in Bellingham was $319,947 – 23 percent higher than the same period in 2004, according to Lylene Johnson of the Muljat Group South office in Fairhaven. Johnson analyzed data compiled by two Multiple Listing Service (MLS) organizations serving the county.
The average sale price for the first nine months of 2005 and the percentage increase over a year ago for other communities are: Lynden, $308,136 – 22 percent; Ferndale, $286,628 – 25 percent; Sudden Valley, $268,651– 22 percent; and Blaine/Birch Bay, $264,164 – 16 percent.
The number of homes on the market is dramatically higher in Bellingham, Johnson said. There were 433 Bellingham residences listed for sale on September 30, 74 percent more than on September 30, 2004. Ferndale (54 percent), Sudden Valley (48 percent) and Blaine/Birch Bay (33 percent) also have housing inventories much higher than a year ago, while Lynden’s actually decreased by six percent.
“More inventory will help in limiting the increase in prices,” Johnson said. “It’s also interesting to note that the number of sales have declined in Bellingham, but risen in other local communities.”
The two listing services reported 1,016 residential units sold in Bellingham during the first nine months of this year, down nine percent from the same period in 2004. However, the number of sales during that period rose in Blaine/Birch Bay (424 sales, up 18 percent), Sudden Valley (216 sales, up 14 percent), Ferndale (370 sales, up nine percent) and Lynden (210, up three percent).
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