Port of Bellingham Purchases Six-Acre Complex

Image: Port of Bellingham.

The Port of Bellingham said in late February that it has purchased about six acres, including six buildings with about 71,000 square feet of office and industrial space, to support continued industrial growth.

The port’s new industrial complex is on Marina Drive, less than a mile from port-owned land and buildings near Squalicum Harbor. The six industrial buildings and office space were built between 1925 and 2008. The property is close to Squalicum Harbor, Interstate 5 and is 2.4 miles from Bellingham International Airport.

“There is strong demand for port-owned land and industrial space,” Port Commission President Michael Shepard stated. “The port’s new industrial complex provides another strategic asset to support the growth of our economy and create good paying jobs for our community.”

The port purchased the land and buildings from Fiber Glass Systems, LP, which is relocating its office staff to a port-owned building at Bellwether on the Bay.

Industrial land and buildings have been in high demand in Whatcom County. In January, the port celebrated the opening of Corvus Energy’s marine battery factory in Fairhaven in what was one of the port’s last remaining vacant industrial buildings.

The Norwegian-based company said it chose Whatcom County to expand into the U.S. market due to the presence of a strong maritime cluster, the availability of manufacturing space, the state’s focus on green shipping, and close proximity to another Corvus Energy facility in British Columbia.

“Expanding industrial areas is a priority for the port,” POB Executive Director Rob Fix said. “There are significant opportunities for growth and the acquisition of a new industrial complex better positions the port to support our existing tenants and recruit new employers.”

Throughout Whatcom County, the Port of Bellingham owns about 1.4 million square feet of office, commercial and industrial building space and has contracts with 250 industrial and commercial tenants.