The City of Bellingham will put almost $350,000 toward enhancing the downtown’s aesthetic through a new grant program that uses lodging taxes and some money from the general fund.
At its meeting Monday, July 1, the Bellingham City Council authorized $250,000 from the lodging tax fund for three large projects, all submitted by public art nonprofit Paper Whale, and another $97,000 from the general fund for four smaller projects to activate and beautify areas of downtown. Lodging taxes are generated by hotel visits and fund initiatives that will attract more visitors to Bellingham.
Mayor Kim Lund proposed the grant program this spring as a way to make the pedestrian experience feel safer and more enjoyable, and even though the application was open for only a month, the city received 43 proposals for projects that would “create Instagram-worthy opportunities,” promote underutilized areas and encourage exploration of downtown.
“I think it’s really exciting that we got 43 proposals — that’s a lot,” council member Hollie Huthman said. “It means there are a lot of people out there excited to do things that make Bellingham more fun and interesting and attractive to tourists.”
A review committee scored each proposal and eventually selected three projects submitted by Paper Whale: immersive Meow Wolf-esque gallery experiences in vacant spaces for $60,000; activations that add to the appeal and functionality of alleyways for $100,000; and murals on both sides of the Lakeway/Interstate 5 underpass for $90,000.
Council member Lisa Anderson said she was especially excited about the underpass murals, saying that the well-traveled corridor seems blighted and prone to graffiti.
The jury also recommended four additional proposals to be paid for from the general fund: a mural on the Lee Memorial Park staircase (also by Paper Whale), some whimsical sculptures around town, a mural on the historic Whatcom Museum firehouse and an interactive “Trike Trak” where riders on trikes can create art.
The project designs have not yet been finalized or approved by the Bellingham Arts Commission, but city development specialist Taylor Webb said that the goal is to create “Bellingham-specific designs,” often with elements of wayfinding.
She added that the city received strong proposals for all kinds of projects, which made for some difficult decisions. In total, three rounds of $250,000 grants are expected, and many of the applicants were asked to submit their proposals again for another RFP (Request for Proposal) to be announced this fall.
Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
