National Equity Fund

Mercy Housing Northwest Celebrates Groundbreaking on Millworks Family Housing in Bellingham, WA

Millworks
April 20, 2023

Congratulations to our partners at Mercy Housing Northwest on the ceremonial groundbreaking at Millworks Family Housing in Bellingham, WA! While the project actually broke ground and began construction on Phase I late last year, representatives from the City and Port of Bellingham, Mercy Housing Northwest, Whatcom Community Foundation and other partners gathered at the port’s container village for the occasion.

On the former site of storage for paper mill byproducts, Phase I of Millworks will provide 83 units of energy-efficient affordable housing restricted to households earning 30%, 50%, and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI) and 10% of the units will be set aside for formerly homeless households. The ground floor of the building will house a childcare center with six classrooms, which will be run by Whatcom Family YMCA. This project will connect residents to employment opportunities and amenities in the area and help invigorate the waterfront and central business districts. Phase I Millworks is on track for occupancy by April 2024! Phase II will offer 80 affordable apartments and a food production campus.

With the help of Whatcom Community Foundation, the state Department of Ecology, and other partners, Mercy Housing will transform a contaminated site on the waterfront into a hub for safe, stable, and affordable housing, childcare, food production, and job accessibility. NEF and CapitalOne sponsored the groundbreaking celebration and had representatives attending. 

Learn more about the project here.

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