A design concept for two buildings that would house a new Blaine library, affordable condominiums, parking and potentially a child care facility at the location of the current Blaine library site was unveiled to Blaine City Council.
Project spokesperson Paul Schissler, a consultant for Kulshan Community Land Trust (KCLT), presented the preliminary plan to city council during its January 22 study session to gauge whether council wanted to proceed with the project.
In May, Schissler brought the project idea to council after KCLT received state funding for the feasibility study. The project would be in partnership with KCLT, the city and the Whatcom County Library System.
“This is a concept and a final project may be different,” Schissler told councilmembers. “This helps negotiate the size and scale of the buildings.”
Renderings show two buildings would be built on one acre of city land where the Blaine library, its parking lot and the skate park are located. (The city has plans to rebuild the skate park in 2027 and is considering moving it to a new location).
KCLT plans to first construct the easterly building, with 44 condominiums in total across four stories. The condominium sizes are still being configured, Schissler said, but would likely average two bedrooms at 850 square feet. The easterly building would be all residential units built on a surface-level parking garage.
The westerly building would have condominiums built on top of a larger Blaine library, nearly twice the size of the current library, and commercial spaces that are envisioned to include a childcare facility. The building would also have an elevated outdoor plaza, on top of a surface-level garage, that connects to the building by an uncovered breezeway. Under the preliminary design, the westerly building would have 27 condominiums in total across three stories.
Schissler said he hoped 51 percent of the condominiums would be sold at a discount, with market-rate condominiums partially subsidizing the affordable units.
The easterly building is estimated to cost $23 million, Schissler said. He said he hopes to have a cost estimate for the westerly building by the end of the year, and that it is anticipated to be more expensive because it would house the library and other public spaces.
The condominiums would be funded by mortgages and down payments. KCLT plans to close the affordability gap through the state’s Housing Trust Fund, as well as other private and public sources, Schissler said.
Funding sources are still being determined for the public spaces, but Schissler said the project may be eligible for state capital grants and other public and philanthropic funding.
At this time, the project is not asking the city to contribute any money, Schissler said.
City manager Mike Harmon added that construction of the easterly building would not impact operations at the current Blaine library.
The city would sell the land to KCLT and the trust would lease it to the condominium association for a 99-year contract. The condominium association would be in charge of improvements.
KCLT is an affordable housing nonprofit that owns the land under homes to preserve the affordability. The trust offers down payment assistance and sets a small annual equity increase to enable homeowners to earn a profit, but keeps the home below market value when it’s sold.
Councilmembers questioned Schissler on project specifics, but didn’t have much time before the end of their study session to discuss the project among themselves. Council plans on continuing the conversation going forward with the project.
Schissler said KCLT had funding for site planning and design development. He wanted to submit building permit applications in early 2025, meaning if the financing came through, occupancy could start as early as 2026.
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Paul_Schissler
The Blaine partnership project appreciates The Northern Light providing independent, accurage information to your readers. Speaking for the project, we appreciate the Blaine City Council encouraging the City Administration to be a leading part of this team effort. Public agencies and nonprofit organizations can team up to create partnership projects that for-profit companies cannot afford to do on their own. Once the public and the nonprofits show what's possible, the for-profits want to help. When organizations from all three sectors (public, nonprofit, for-profit) team up, wonderful things can happen, especially when the fourth sector, the grassroots, sets up to help. You can think of it as a recipe; it's best when all four sectors are in the mix, and when there's political will to attempt something new. To The Northern Light's coverage above, I would like to add that if anyone has questions, concerns, suggestions, or other comments, they can contact Paul Schissler by email or phone. Thanks!
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