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Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates

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Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates This letter is in response to the RFP put out by the Port of Bellingham for property located within the previous GP site. Willson/Blethen and Associates would be interested acquiring a portion of property within the new Waterfront District in Bellingham, Washington. Area of Specific Interest Our specific interest would be for the property listed as “Parcel C” in the offering: the “Granary” building, the adjoining property immediately to the southwest and in undefined additional property as agreed for either specific or shared parking. Development Team Background James Willson and John Blethen first partnered in 1989 to purchase and rehabilitate the vacant Puget Power maintenance building on Ellis Street on the edge of downtown Bellingham. Their experience includes commercial real estate development, construction management, architectural work, and over two decades of direct commercial property ownership. Previous projects have included new construction, the rehabilitation of vacant vintage buildings, and commercial demolition. Numerous structures in their portfolio were vacant or abandoned at time of acquisition and were successfully retenanted in a reasonable period of time. Early players in what is now considered Bellingham’s Art District, they jointly purchased, rehabbed and reoccupied properties now housing the Sparks Museum of Electricity, Mindport, and the Grand Avenue Alehouse. Past remediation experience has involved direct mitigation of hazardous materials in quantity, including various hydrocarbon contaminants, lead based paints, and asbestos. Willson additional: Past individual ownership/management of additional properties within the Arts District that now house the Pickford Film Center and two buildings of Logos Bible Software; Project manager for the PFC for design/construction of new space on Bay Street; Rehabbed as owner Simplot processing plant in Ferndale (12 acre site, remediation of multiple fuel tanks (up to 10,000 gal) and appropriate soils, removal of 2 contaminated freezer plants of 26,000 sq. ft., removal of 2 acres of concrete foundations and footing, heavy asbestos, lead paint, negotiated with BNSF Railway on leases); Past/current owner of various retail/industrial centers/parks; Negotiated and facilitated the transfer of various commercial properties including the Bellingham Herald building; Past shared owner of residential construction company specializing in passive solar homes; Past panel advisor to the State of Washington on residential energy conservation. Past/current community work includes: Board service with Whatcom County Crisis Services/Pickford Film Center/Skagit County CISM Team, volunteer WCFD 13. Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates Blethen additional: Owner/developer of the previously mentioned PSE maintenance warehouse. This 1929 structure was designed by the same architect (Stanley Piper) that designed the Granary. Built with similar construction, development of the property has given Blethen an insight into Piper’s methods of engineering. Once abandoned, the Creekside Building is now a thriving business community of offices, studios, a design center and an experimentally based high school. Incrementally this building has become one of the “greenest” buildings in town with insulated windows, high efficiency lighting, the largest privately owned green roof in Whatcom County and a substantial commitment to solar energy through recent installation of forty four solar panels; Recently developed and completed as owner Bellingham’s first “green” live/work condominiums, also featuring high energy efficiencies and a solar collection system. In aggregate with the Creekside Building, the neighborhood system forms the largest solar voltaic project in Whatcom County; Owner of a construction related business since 1975; Previous restaurant owner; Community work includes over forty years of serving on numerous boards and advisory groups. He was a member of the Waterfront Futures, and the Waterfront Advisory Group. He was part of developing both the Farmer’s Market and the Bellingham Food Co-op. He also served on either Parks or Greenways for twenty years and has been active in many other committees. Contact Information James Willson: [email protected] 360-319-0650 John Blethen: [email protected] 360-319-4705 Funding It would be our intent to refurbish the building’s exterior immediately upon acquisition. Costs for exterior and site work are estimated to be approximately $2,500,000. Willson/Blethen and Associates are not dependant on financing for this level of investment. Interiors and tenant improvements will be financed through US Bank. Litigation Willson/Blethen and Associates do not have any current or past history (either in partnership or as individuals) involving litigation or legal disputes, and specifically none that would affect this project. References: Ginger Davis, Vice President Commercial Real Estate, US Bank, 360-738-2743 Alice Clark, Executive Director, Pickford Film Center, 360-201-6477 Craig Goldsmith, Coast Real Estate Services, 425-551-0813 Dan Johnson, Echo Point Construction, 360-739-4278 Grinstad & Wagner Architects, 360-676-9501 Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates Development Concept Our vision for the structure is a mix of retail, restaurant and offices. We envision an exterior presentation similar to our illustration which we previously submitted to the Port. We would continue with the same level of design and visual interest, focusing on connectivity between exterior and interior spaces and a strong relationship with what will be the new pedestrian promenade. The building will be set up for a partial green roof, for solar voltaics, and for the use of stored rainwater for both grey water and irrigation systems. Likely square footage allotments would be 6,000 sq. ft. restaurant, 6,000 sq. ft. retail, and 17,000 sq. ft. office/classroom. Tenants will be accepted as to provide a community of a self- supporting mix of interactive and viable businesses (as the Port staff has already correctly determined, residential uses within the tower are not financially feasible). A likely mix on the ground level would be a pub/restaurant, a personal watercraft store, and a bicycle shop. We have been in active contact with many possible tenants, but are not willing to make commitments without having control of the property. Full time jobs to be located within the building are estimated at 90-110 Parking would be laid out to allow convenient access to the waterfront as well as to the Granary building. Additional emphasis would be given to parking for bicycles both interior and exterior to the building. We recognize the community value of a visitors’ dock and a hand launch beach in the proposed neighboring park area and look forward to working with the Port and City to make that happen. We have had an interest in this property for a long time. Willson first approached the Port regarding purchase almost nine years ago. In 2012, we held community meetings to gauge the level of popular interest and to publicize the building’s potential. Recognizing the dominant position this property will have at the north approach to the WFD, we worked with Rick Mullen to design a strong exterior renovation concept. Mullen’s resulting illustration of what a renovated Granary could look like has been met with universal support. We believe we can develop this building in keeping with the RUDAT plan done for this area and reaffirmed in the Waterfront Futures visioning plan. The Granary and the Central Avenue wharf form an exciting entry to the port redevelopment; one that speaks to the community’s past and looks toward the future. An early, bold completion of this project will stand as the benchmark for projects to follow, drawing the community and visitors to our waterfront. In addition to the Granary, Willson/Blethen and Associates expect to participate in actively building a strong waterfront and Old Town redevelopment. We are particularly excited about development of the Central wharf and of the proposed park just to the south of the building. Together with the Granary, these combined projects will become an economic driver much as the Depot Market Square has revitalized Railroad Avenue. As locally known, committed participants we will be able to help move these projects forward. In the past, we’ve shown an ability to create public involvement and private investment on many of Whatcom County’s civic projects. This history of local involvement combined with community ties and decades of real estate experience translates into a renovation of the Granary to a sharp, well crafted business center and neighborhood anchor, brought forward to modern times with new technologies, high efficiency materials, and a striking new design. Response to Waterfront District RFP Willson/Blethen and Associates Proposed Transaction Structure Our specific interest would be for the acquisition of the property identified as Parcel 3 containing the “Granary” building and the adjoining property immediately to the southwest as to be negotiated. This transaction would be a single immediate purchase in total, with no project phasing Our proposed purchase price for this combined parcel is $225,000, with an earnest money of $50,000. This offer is predicated on the assumption that the soils within the land described to be purchased are not contaminated and/or that the Port retains liability for environmental concerns that occurred prior to the time of our ownership. It is our understanding that the contamination of the GP site does not extend to this property. We will need to review past testing and to have the ability to take and test samples to confirm this information. Following the signing of a purchase and sale, we would request a 30 day feasibility period to explore the above and are prepared to close within 15 days thereafter. It is our preference that closing occurs through Kelli Moquin at Chicago Title. .
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