tool name

close
tool goes here

Catholic Housing Services to hold meeting in Bellingham over homeless housing, commercial development

Published: Feb. 15, 2013 at 5:12 p.m. PSTUpdated: Feb. 15, 2013 at 5:27 p.m. PST
0 comments

BELLINGHAM - Catholic Housing Services has scheduled a Thursday, Feb. 21, meeting to discuss its proposed 42-unit housing and commercial development at 1122 Cornwall Ave.

The meeting will run 6 to 7 p.m. in the YWCA Ballroom, 1026 N. Forest St.

That four-story building, which will include parking, would be at Catholic Housing Services' property at Cornwall Avenue and Maple Street.

Twenty of the 42 units would be reserved for the chronically homeless, a challenging population to help. Some of them are expected to be addicted to drugs, and a majority likely would have a mental illness. They would receive support services.

Some downtown merchants have expressed concern about the proposal.

The meeting is being held prior to Catholic Housing Services' application for land use permits, as required by the city of Bellingham.

JOIN THE DISCUSSION | Register here

We welcome comments. Please keep them civil, short and to the point. ALL CAPS, spam, obscene, profane, abusive and off topic comments will be deleted. Repeat offenders will be blocked. Thanks for taking part — and abiding by these simple rules. A thorough explanation of rules of conduct can be found in our Terms of Service. If you have any questions, including why your comment may not be showing immediately after you submit it, be sure to visit the commenting FAQ.

CONTESTS

Similar stories

  • Second phase of Bellingham housing project won't be for chronically homeless

    BELLINGHAM - Catholic Housing Services will not include housing for the chronically homeless in the second phase of its development at 1100 Cornwall Ave., a representative said during the Downtown Neighborhood Association meeting.

    Steve Powers, division director for Catholic Housing Services, made that pledge Thursday, Jan. 31, during a presentation at The Leopold on the design of the first and second phases.

    The first phase serves the chronically homeless. Some owners have worried about the harm that could be done to downtown businesses, and Powers was assuaging fears that the second phase could include that type of housing as well.

  • Homeless housing project in downtown Bellingham could begin this summer

    BELLINGHAM - Catholic Housing Services could begin construction of a 42-unit housing complex this summer at 1100 Cornwall Ave., including 20 units for chronically or mentally ill homeless people.

    The inclusion of homeless housing in the project triggered heated complaints from some downtown merchants last summer, but the people who live in the project will get round-the-clock supervision, Catholic Housing Services division director Steve Powers told City Council Monday, Jan. 28.

    The startup of construction on the $9 million project this year will depend on whether it succeeds in getting tax credits from the Washington State Housing Finance Commission to help with funding, Powers told the council. He said his agency already has applied for city review of the project's design - the first phase of the permitting process.

  • Arthritis Foundation schedules Feb. 27 open house in Bellingham

    BELLINGHAM - The Arthritis Foundation is holding its first open house Wednesday, Feb. 27, at 809 E. Chestnut St.

    The event is 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the South Campus Building of PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center in Bellingham.

    The goal is to raise public awareness of the foundation and the events it organizes throughout the region, according to a foundation news release.

  • Mental health and public safety focus of Feb. 19 community forum in Bellingham

    BELLINGHAM - Recognizing the signs of mental illness and helping people before they threaten public safety will be the focus of a Tuesday, Feb. 19, event in Bellingham.

    The local event is being organized by Whatcom Counseling & Psychiatric Clinic.

    It grows out of the Dec. 14 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in which 26 people were killed, including 20 young students, in Newtown, Conn. With first responders closing in at the school, the 20-year-old shooter, Adam Lanza, killed himself.

  • PeaceHealth calls off partnership talks with Catholic Health Initiatives

    PeaceHealth, which provides much of the health care in Whatcom County and operates the only hospital here, has ended its plan to combine with another Catholic health organization, both sides announced Wednesday, April 3.

    The deal between PeaceHealth and Catholic Health Initiatives was to be in place by June 30. The two faith-based health care systems had signed a non-binding agreement last August to create a joint venture by combining all of their operations, which include 16 hospitals, in three states.

    They agreed on Tuesday, April 2, to suspend their discussions, as they were going through due diligence and the approval process.