City of Bellingham Design Review Board
The Design Review Board welcomed new member Robert Wright while bidding farewell to David Heck, whose term expires January 25th, marking a transition in board membership. The meeting addressed two significant residential development projects requiring early design guidance in Bellingham's urban core. The first project at 1915 D Street proposes a four-story, 25-unit multifamily building in the downtown urban village residential transition area. The contemporary design features a corner entry, mixed unit types (studios through two-bedrooms), and 19 on-site parking spaces. Board members expressed concerns about the building's proximity to the sidewalk along Gerard Street and the cohesiveness of the corner entry design with upper floors. The second project, Old Town Senior Housing by Mercy Housing, proposes a 68-unit affordable housing development for seniors. This four-story building requires three departures from Old Town development standards: reducing commercial space depth from 20 to 16 feet, allowing a transformer room to reduce commercial frontage, and limiting weather protection along E Street to preserve natural light for community spaces. Both projects received generally positive feedback, with the board appreciating the design concepts while requesting refinements. The D Street project needs attention to public realm prioritization and entry design cohesion. The Old Town project's departures were deemed reasonable given site constraints, though board members noted the challenge of balancing screening with the colorful neighboring Lighthouse Mission building. The meeting demonstrated the board's role in early design guidance, emphasizing that these preliminary "butter stick" renderings will be significantly refined before final application. All three requested departures for the senior housing project received support from board members who recognized the legitimate site constraints and community benefits of affordable housing.
**1915 D Street Project:** - No formal votes taken (early design guidance phase) - Board provided feedback on corner entry design cohesion - Expressed concerns about narrow sidewalk and limited landscaping buffer along Gerard Street - Requested attention to public realm prioritization given zero-lot-line setback - Suggested additional bay windows to improve facade rhythm - Recommended enhanced detail for cornice treatment and trash enclosure screening **Old Town Senior Housing Project:** - No formal votes taken (early design guidance phase…
**1915 D Street Project:** - Applicant will refine corner entry design for better cohesion with upper floors - Address public realm concerns along Gerard Street through creative setback or enhanced landscaping solutions - Add facade modulation with additional bay windows - Develop detailed cornice treatment with appropriate texture and depth - Design enhanced trash enclosure screening - Submit formal design review application with refined plans **Old Town Senior Housing Project:** - Develop contextual renderings showing relationship to …