WHATCOM COUNTY, Wash. — Whatcom County reports they have entered into a tentative agreement to purchase approximately 19 acres at 4160 Hannegan Road in Bellingham for a new jail. The agreed purchase price is $4,070,000, which matches a fair market value appraisal.
The location is an alternative to property on LaBounty Drive near Slater Road in Ferndale that was purchased more than 10 years ago. Building at the Hannegan Road site is estimated to “conservatively” save $2,500,000 in construction costs.
County Executive Satpal Sidhu said, “Better construction conditions, a simpler permitting pathway, more compact construction timeline, and more convenient location – these factors will all save taxpayer money.”
The site is south of the Hannegan Speedway and near the Whatcom County Behavioral Health Campus on Division Street. That campus includes the Anne Deacon Center for Hope and the Didgwalic Wellness Center.
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Sidhu said, “I know that our community wants to see this project completed as soon as possible, and this new site also helps with that.”
The Whatcom County Council must approve the purchase. The county reportedly has already started discussions with the City of Bellingham regarding permitting. The project is part of the Justice Project, which includes the future Whatcom Behavioral Care Center.
In March of 2015, construction of a new Whatcom County Jail in Ferndale was anticipated to create 215,000 square feet of space across 3 new buildings on the northwest corner of LaBounty Drive and Sunset Avenue. But voters did not approve funding until 2023.
Year Result Vote Percentage
(supermajority required)2015 Rejected 51.4% No 2017 Rejected 58.6% No 2023 Approved ~63% Yes
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