Urban Transitions Studio to present study March 13

Western Washington University’s Urban Transitions Studio will present the Bellingham Downtown Edge Corridor Planning Study from 7-9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 13 in the City Hall Council Chambers at 210 Lottie St.

The presentation will be free and open to the public.

This year's Urban Transition Studio Project examines redevelopment opportunities for the downtown Bellingham core, a planning area located along the downtown's largely neglected "southern edge corridor" which divides downtown and the former Georgia Pacific industrial zone. Students have formulated redevelopment concepts to integrate the edge corridor into the downtown framework and provide a transition to the future waterfront area.

This project challenged students to identify future land uses that contribute to a dynamic evolution of the downtown community. Emphasizing principles of sustainable development, students examined the corridor's potential for enhancing and creating new urban spaces that promote social development, equity of the community, economic prosperity, community sufficiency, environmental goals, and other overarching objectives in community "good society" development.

Urban Transitions Studio is a collaborative partnership between Western, the City of Bellingham’s Office of Planning and Community Development and Office of Public Works, the Bellingham Public Development Authority, The Port of Bellingham, and Sustainable Connections, a Bellingham-based nonprofit organization. The partnership aims to promote new urbanism and smart growth planning concepts and to stimulate ideas for transitioning Bellingham into a more urban and sustainable community.

For more information regarding the Urban Transition Studio Project, contact Nicholas Zaferatos at (360) 650-7660 or nicholas.zaferatos@wwu.edu.