Bellingham, the ugly truth.... (Seattle, Spokane: tenants, maintenance, safest)

[E Roy Slade]

downtown bellingham seems to have lots of crazy homeless meth people or something so i dont find downtown very fun lately

[Baldy]

Downtown Bellingham is a giant skid row. Most of the quality retail businesses are long gone. Downtown caters to soon-to-be college drop outs and drug addicts. Wouldn't eat in any of the restaurants for fear for my health.

Retail customer service is interesting. Either college students too good to be serving you, locals still living with mom or new residents who are living in campers.

If I had another move in me, I'd be gone, gone, gone.

[dcisive]

Sure seems odd to hear of these types of condition in Bellingham. So many well off folks are flocking there in droves bringing their $$$. Perhaps just the "downtown" is a flourishing dump. Apparently the rest of the area is doing rather nicely it seems.

[bartonizer]

Originally Posted by dcisive

Sure seems odd to hear of these types of condition in Bellingham. So many well off folks are flocking there in droves bringing their $$$. Perhaps just the "downtown" is a flourishing dump. Apparently the rest of the area is doing rather nicely it seems.

Bellingham is doing quite nicely and is full of people. New businesses are popping up and tourism seems to be increasing. There is a certainly a college element as students from Western are back in school, but I don't know why anyone is surprised by that or has a problem with that.

Edit: No offense to Baldy, I do hope that he's able to move on from town. He detests transplants and change; I get it. There are issues with homelessness and growth, and affordable housing can be hard to find. But it's laughable to claim it's a dump. Try finding an affordable house within walking or biking distance of the central business district and you'll see what I mean.

[dcisive]

Also needless to say there isn't a town less than half the size of Bellingham ANYWHERE that doesn't have some homeless and drug issues going on. It's the nature of our current society. There are some "hotbeds" where it's worse than most areas, but I truly do NOT believe that Bellingham qualifies for THAT stature. It's darn sure NOT a Tacoma And the affluence there is growing leaps and bounds. With that type of movement more often than not the police presence will eventually increase, the drugs and loser criminals will be bumped more and more outside. I suspect eventually (who knows like maybe 5 years) things will turn around I would suspect considerably. We shall see. I am also looking at Whatcom County but at least a half hour or so from Bellingham, so I'd enjoy it's shopping but leave it at that personally.

[west seattle gal]

Downtown Bham (the streets/businesses) has a run down look and some homelessness and panhandling akin to Seattle. It's slightly seedy but not dangerous. I happen to like it this way. Parking is still easy to find and there are plentiful small local businesses, but I fear that in the next 5 years it could grow into a more posh yet generic vista of condos as far as the eye can see -- once again akin to Seattle. Bham is what Seattle used to be, so I'm told.

[dcisive]

Well, to each their own I suppose. I don't love to see all forms of green disappear that's for sure, but quite frankly living in an area completely devoid of homelessness, panhandling and crime would certainly appeal to ME. I'm not into the city grunge thing thank you. Oh well......

[bartonizer]

Originally Posted by dcisive

Well, to each their own I suppose. I don't love to see all forms of green disappear that's for sure, but quite frankly living in an area completely devoid of homelessness, panhandling and crime would certainly appeal to ME. I'm not into the city grunge thing thank you. Oh well......

It's all relative. I think west seattle girl's description is accurate, but I could see how it could scare some people off. There are plenty of more run-down, unoccupied downtowns across the country, but I know what she means. It's got an urban vibe or grit that is more associated with Portland or Seattle back in the day, but again, that's part of the charm.

Many interesting things are in planning (not to even mention the massive GP waterfront project) that will evolve downtown into more of a tourist destination. More restaurants, cideries, breweries, distilleries, etc. are all currently under construction.... we all know that retail is a changing world, so shopping is always evolving. So, downtown is and will be a place for dining, drinks, and entertainment.

Like west seattle girl, my hope is that growth proceeds at a controlled rate, doesn't price all the indy shops out and become gentrified to the point of being generic. So far, though, we think it's a fun and interesting place. It has a taste of urban without parking concerns or real danger associated with bigger cities. If you want charm, go to Fairhaven for the evening. If you want a little bit more city-like experience, go to downtown.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by west seattle gal

Downtown Bham (the streets/businesses) has a run down look and some homelessness and panhandling akin to Seattle. It's slightly seedy but not dangerous. I happen to like it this way. Parking is still easy to find and there are plentiful small local businesses, but I fear that in the next 5 years it could grow into a more posh yet generic vista of condos as far as the eye can see -- once again akin to Seattle. Bham is what Seattle used to be, so I'm told.

Seattle was NOT charming, back in those days, I've gotta tell you. Maybe West Seattle was nice enough, but downtown wasn't.

[west seattle gal]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Seattle was NOT charming, back in those days, I've gotta tell you. Maybe West Seattle was nice enough, but downtown wasn't.

Referring to neighborhoods, not downtown area.