Property owners will begin cleaning up a large homeless encampment at Northwest Avenue and Bakerview Road later this month.
City staff will officially notify residents of the camp on Thursday, Jan. 16, with the cleanup to occur the following week, City of Bellingham Communications and Community Relations Director Melissa Morin said in an email Friday, Jan. 3.
The encampment has grown over the last half-year, with roughly 50–70 residents in October. It’s attracted community concern, with tents, debris and shopping carts spilling into view from the road, and some people visiting or living in the encampment walking out into the road with disregard for traffic. The encampment spans six pieces of private property.
In November, Mayor Kim Lund told property owners they needed to take immediate action or “face enforcement actions.”
Morin said the city’s staff is not conducting the cleanup: the property owners hired their own cleanup crews. But city staff and police officers will be present on Jan. 16 when homeless people in the encampment are officially notified during the cleanup.
Police will be present during the encampment on the week of the 20th to issue trespass notices if needed, Morin said.
Estimates provided by the city’s contractor, Abatement & Decontamination Specialists, suggest the full cleanup will cost around $96,000, split between the property owners based on the extent of the impact on their land. Fencing estimates provided by the city suggest an additional cost of just over $500,000, split between owners, to secure the property.
Abatement & Decontamination Specialists observed in the encampment “dire living conditions, occupants in mental health crisis, potential incivility or threats of violence from occupants,” as well as evidence of building materials, sharps, weapons, illicit narcotics, and “dioxins and carcinogens associated with fire and burning wood.”
Some violent incidents have occurred at the encampment as well. A man was arrested for rape of a child in the third degree and other alleged crimes last year. Bellingham Police Lt. Claudia Murphy said two felony assaults occurred in the encampment in August 2024, in addition to one felony assault in May.
In December, the Bellingham Police Department arrested 23 people at the Fred Meyer across the street from the encampment, when patrolling in search of retail theft. Those arrested face 12 charges for theft in the third degree, nine charges for shoplifting and three charges for burglary in the second degree. Police also seized 63 grams of methamphetamine from one person.
Charlotte Alden is CDN’s general assignment/enterprise reporter; reach her at charlottealden@cascadiadaily.com; 360-922-3090 ext. 123.
