Historic Resource Survey Report, Sehome Neighborhood, Bellingham, Washington

Historic Preservation Northwest

From project summary: "In January 2013 Historic Preservation Northwest (HPNW) undertook a reconnaissance-level historic resource survey and inventory (the Project) of 353 properties located in the Sehome Neighborhood in Bellingham, Washington. The Project was sponsored by the City of Bellingham's Planning and Community Development Department, and addressed only above-grade, built environment historic properties. The Project forwards the City's goal of establishing a comprehensive inventory within Bellingham’s historic neighborhoods, documenting and evaluating properties that are 50 years or older. The Project also provides an important planning tool for the City of Bellingham, as well as the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). All survey and inventory information resides in the Washington State Historic Property Inventory (HPI) database, accessible to the public via the Washington Information System for Architectural and Archaeological Records Data (WISAARD) web portal. Findings and recommendations resulting from the Project are summarized in the report, as well as preliminary determinations of eligibility for buildings that meet the criteria for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Inventory information is also available via the City of Bellingham’s Geographic Information System (GIS) at the Planning and Community Development Department... The Sehome Neighborhood name goes back to the original town of Sehome, which was platted in 1854 and incorporated in 1888. The early town of Sehome was one of four independent settlements that developed along Bellingham Bay: Whatcom, Sehome, Bellingham, and Fairhaven. The towns of Fairhaven and Bellingham incorporated in 1889 under the name "Fairhaven," and Sehome re-incorporated as New Whatcom that same year. In 1891, it then joined with Whatcom under the name "New Whatcom" (later dropping the “New”). In 1903, Fairhaven and Whatcom consolidated to become the City of Bellingham. The Sehome Neighborhood is defined by both natural and man-made boundaries. To the southwest, the neighborhood wraps around Sehome Hill, a steep bedrock formation rising 650 feet from Bellingham Bay, and borders the South Hill Neighborhood at Cedar Street. Boulevard Street and the northwest side of North Forest Street form the northwestern boundary, and East Holly, Ellis, and East Maple Streets bordering the York Neighborhood form the eastern and northeastern boundaries. Interstate 5 at the eastern edge and the Bill McDonald Parkway to the south complete the neighborhood boundary. The neighborhood has an assortment of land use designations including multi-family residential, single family residential, commercial, public, and urban village." Funding was provided in part by a 2013 Historic Preservation Fund grant to the City of Bellingham (project number WA-13-0002) administered by the Washington State Historic Preservation Office (grant number P13AF00086) and the State, Tribal, and Local Plans and Grants Division, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior. Bellingham, Washington is a Certified Local Government.

Historic Resource Survey Report, Sehome Neighborhood, Bellingham, Washington

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