Vol. 4, #45

A major Neighborhood event is upon us and well worth the wait.  Saturday’s (June 6) celebration of Cordata Community Gardens, beginning at noon and running four hours, will honor those whose untiring efforts have helped make possible the City’s first such venue on the north side.  There are three others--all located considerably south of Cordata.  The Gardens are impressive proof of extensive neighborhood involvement in addition to grant money from Washington State University Extension funded by The Mary Redman Foundation plus the City of Bellingham.  Another contributing factor has been that of the business community without which the project would not have been possible.

Land was provided at no cost by developer Ted Mischaikov whose M:KOV group now owns plats purchased from departed D.R. Horton.  The project was brought to life by the Cordata Community Gardens Committee of the Guide Meridian/Cordata Neighborhood Association.  Among Saturday’s features will be commentary by Mayor Dan Pike and 1^st Ward Councilman Jack Weiss, tours of the gardens, snacks, food for purchase and a lottery drawing for 14 prizes including a $100 shopping spree at the Cordata Community Food Co-op.  Lottery tickets at $1 each are still available by calling Julie Guy (738-8466).

Our last meeting until September, featuring developer Ted Mischaikov, will be held Tuesday, June 9, Birchwood Presbyterian Church, 400 Meadowbrook Ct.  Mischaikov, through transparency delivered at Neighborhood meetings and a donation of land making possible Cordata Community Gardens, has achieved significant stature among us and the rest of Bellingham.  It was Mischaikov and his M:KOV group that purchased land remaining from D.R. Horton’s projects north of Tremont Rd. and Cordata Parkway.  Included is a 428-unit residential plat located west of the Parkway.  While planning of the land by Horton was initially accepted by the City, Mischaikov is attempting beneficial changes that must be within a reasonable range according to the Planning Dept.  If, in its opinion, the changes are too dramatic, Mischaikov must begin from scratch. Forthright and intelligent, the developer represents a departure from Bellingham’s inclination to slam and jam.  Focus of his appearance will be his plans for the as yet un-named project.  One of his suggestions involves a use of eight different types of housing as contrasted to Horton’s five.  Another major feature is a concern for the development’s wetlands through which will run an extension of Kline Rd. if current plans are carried out.  Mischaikov wants make Kelly Rd. to the north as a main east-west connector to Aldrich Rd. from Guide Meridian.  Tuesday’s meeting is a 7 p.m.  Come and bring a neighbor and learn about plans to our immediate north. 

Bellingham’s Big Box Ban, the story that won’t go away, achieved further development with Mayor Dan Pike’s announcement that he wants to relax the ground rules.  With City Council approval, the current 90,000-square-foot cap would be obviated and such stores as Costco, Wal-Mart and Fred Meyer allowed expansion.  The squeeze was put on the City by Ferndale and Lynden overtures to the big guys.  Ferndale now has no limits on size while key Lynden leaders have indicated a desire to eliminate the current 65,000 square-foot limit along Guide Meridian.  Bellingham’s fallback position will request expansions adhere to environmentally friendly building standards.  The nine stores currently beyond the cap, initiated two years ago, paid $4.2 million in taxes and fees last year.  There will be a public discussion June 25 at City Hall.        

Another public hearing at City Hall, to consider amendments to zoning tables, will be held June 15.  Involving payment of fees in lieu of acquiring transfer of development rights from Lake Whatcom watershed, the amendments would affect GM/C Neighborhood in addition to King Mountain, Meridian and Mt. Baker Neighborhood Zoning.

Whatcom Community College is now part of Northwest Colleges Egypt Initiative resulting from a $1.4 million grant.  Sixteen students from the land of pyramids will enroll this fall in a variety of programs.  Anyone interested in providing housing should call Kelly Kester (383-3245)....Battle of the Bands will be held at Heimer Center Auditorium on June 12, at 8 p.m.…..The Bellingham Slam continues to play outstanding professional basketball in the International League.  Upcoming games in the WCC Pavilion include: Oregon Waves, June 5; Shanxi (China) Zhongyu, June 12; Edmonton Energy, June 28.  Games begin at 8 p.m.

Deadline Dash….Television’s attitude toward “Ski to Sea” begs many questions, among them the matter of its lack of attention regarding the unusual seven-leg competition.  I’m sure the lack of “names” comes into play and its awkward length suggests feature coverage.  Seattle stations have accorded the event attention as did Bellingham KVOS-TV when the station did news.  Still, “Ski-to-Sea” is worth more than regional programming.  For a good look at the event, catch up with Ron Judd’s recent take in the Seattle Times.  It can be accessed on the Internet….Bellingham housing values fell but 2.2% during the first quarter compared to last year’s same time frame.  That compares to Washington State’s 6.6% and the national figure of 7.1%.  Alaska, up 4.8% led the Nation while Nevada, victimized by housing high rollers, was down 31.1%....A vote on revised Association bylaws, discussed at the last general meeting, will be held at the June 9 meeting.  For further insight, call Ralph Wenning (733-6310) or Julie Guy (738-8466)….As we head into summer (its doldrums will include no general meetings until September), your Association will greatly appreciate any year’s dues that have yet to be paid.  Collector of such fees, vital in our activities as we make Cordata an even better place, is Julie Guy (738-8466).

More later,

Bob Sanders with noble assistance from Micah Caucutt

 

 

     

Comments

[Mary Helene]

One can still hike the Cordata trail! My husband and I did it last week, following the colored ribbons. Of course, one does have to climb over a barbed wire fence. Memories of youth!