City of Bellingham Mayor Kelli Linville honored three businesses at the first annual City Center Awards Ceremony on July 13 at the Whatcom Museum Lightcatcher Building. These awards showcase and recognize some of the outstanding achievements and exceptional private projects that have led to the revitalization of Bellingham's City Center Neighborhood. "Supporting our City Center is a high priority for me, and I'm grateful to these revitalization efforts of our great downtown," Mayor Kelli Linville said. "We're proud of our historic buildings, and we hope to preserve and protect these community assets for many generations to come. I look forward to next year's awards when we can honor a new group of leaders who are dedicated to making our downtown strong." The Mayor selects property owners, businesses, and/or organizations as awardees based on a set of criteria that includes: outstanding restoration, rehabilitation, or renovation of an existing building; creating unique residential and commercial spaces within existing buildings; activating adjacent public spaces; and other actions that improve the quality of life in Bellingham's City Center. The 2017 Mayor's City Center Awards were presented to the following organizations/businesses: Jack Lamb of Aslan Brewing Co. for the 1955 McBeath Building, 1330 N. Forest Street Categories: • Exceptional adaptive reuse of a historic building • Creative reuse of materials for interior and exterior improvements • Success in bringing new vitality and activity to the sidewalk and street To learn more about Aslan Brewing Co., watch a short video showcasing their work. Bob Hall and David Johnson of Daylight Properties for the Herald Building, 1155 N. State Street Categories: • Rehabilitation of and improvements to interior • Restoration of original storefronts with the WWU Alumni association and new business start-ups as tenants • Bringing new vitality and activity to the sidewalk and street To learn more about Daylight Properties and the Herald Building, watch a short video showcasing their work. Brad Parberry and Parberry's Inc. for the Swift Building/San Juan Apartments, 112 Grand Avenue Categories: • Exceptionally creative interior renovation of second-story single occupancy rooms into eight residential units • Attention to detail and reuse of historic materials • Personal attention and investment in the renovation To learn more about Parberry's Inc., watch a short video showcasing their work. For details of the awardees or more information, please visit the Mayor's City Center Awards webpage.
