Emerging Character districts
The area has three distinct areas that already have a strong character that could be developed further.
Section 1, the alley between East Holly Street and East Magnolia Street that is bookend between North State Street and Railroad Avenue has strong historical elements including train tracks embedded into the alley way, the State Street building, The Copper Hog and PSE building, and the grain device in the alley.
Section 1, the alley between East Holly Street and East Magnolia Street that is bookend between North State Street and Railroad Avenue has strong historical elements including train tracks embedded into the alley way, the State Street building, The Copper Hog and PSE building, and the grain device in the alley.
Section 2 is the long open alleyway next to the WTA stop, and is ideal for an open air bazaar and vendor activity.
Section 3 is the alley behind Bellingham Bar and Grill, The Local, Casa Que Pasa, and the Limelight Cinema (just to name a few). The strong presence of night life with bars and art lends itself well to this area being a bar and arts district.
This area also needs the most attention to cleaning up, lighting, and consolidation of trash containers. The addition of back access to bar areas, supplementary bars that have alley access only, and late night eateries would do best in this area.
The trash containers can either be contained in one area located in the center of the alley businesses and hidden with a beautification fence. This does several things: it hides them from sight and also reduces the areas that are hidden from "eyes on the streets".
The nooks and crannies in this alley are numerous, and was mentioned in the majority of our interviews with business owners and workers in the area as being a concern. Pulling these areas out so they are flush with the main corridor walls of the alley would be a major step towards providing a more walkable and usable space.
The trash containers can either be contained in one area located in the center of the alley businesses and hidden with a beautification fence. This does several things: it hides them from sight and also reduces the areas that are hidden from "eyes on the streets".
The nooks and crannies in this alley are numerous, and was mentioned in the majority of our interviews with business owners and workers in the area as being a concern. Pulling these areas out so they are flush with the main corridor walls of the alley would be a major step towards providing a more walkable and usable space.