Bellingham has a great need for more industrial and manufacturing businesses that promote family wage jobs and expand Bellingham’s tax base. Currently there is only 8,343,610 SF of industrial buildings within the City of Bellingham and a limited number of available industrial business parks with buildings for sale. There is also a limited supply of industrial property available for development. The City of Bellingham does not have a single large industrial park for cross docking and distribution. The majority of the industrial buildings are scattered around the city in separate pockets with industrial zoning.

Where are the Industrial Buildings Located in Bellingham?

The four main areas that the City of Bellingham has dedicated for industrial use are the Irongate Business Park, which is located in east central Bellingham off Sunset Ave, the property located at the northern border of the city limits on the east side of Guide Meridian, the lower portion of the Sunnyland Neighborhood located just north of Bellingham High School, and the Cordata Business Park in north Bellingham is the fourth primary area within the city that allows planned commercial industrial uses.

The Irongate Business Park in Bellingham WA

The Irongate Business Park off Bakerview and Hannegan is the largest industrial business park in Bellingham. There is currently industrial zoned land, industrial buildings, and commercial condos available for sale. During the mid to late 2000’s real estate boom there was a flood of commercial warehouse condos constructed countywide but Irongate Business Park holds the highest density. Many of those commercial condos are still available.

North Bellingham Industrial Property and Buildings

A majority of the industrial land located east of the Guide Meridian is zoned for larger parcels. This is a good location for businesses that need a significant yard for their inventory along with all weather shipping and receiving. Many of these industrial parcels are 5 and 10 acres in size.

The Sunnyland Neighborhood and Retail Industrial Zoning

The industrial zoned property located in lower Sunnyland is well established. Most of the commercial businesses and buildings in this area have been in Bellingham for a long time. Before Bellingham expanded, this was the originally area zoned for industrial businesses. The advantage of businesses being located in this area is the proximity to supporting vendors and to downtown Bellingham. In more recent years, this area has been a popular location for breweries to locate in Bellingham due to the close proximity to households. The walkable access from the surrounding neighborhoods has made this a great additional to Bellingham’s beer culture, however has taken a toll on available industrial land.

Other Areas with Industrial Zoning in Bellingham

In addition to the major three industrial areas previously mentioned, there are also small pockets of industrial zoning scattered throughout Bellingham. Some of this property is owned by the Port of Bellingham and leased to private businesses. These properties are primarily located along the waterfront in Fairhaven and downtown Bellingham, or near the airport.