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Demolishing Everson Meadows
By Elisa Claassen For the Tribune
EVERSON — Vacant since severe flooding crippled the Nooksack Valley 18 months ago, Everson Meadows, at 310 Everson Road, is in the process of being demolished. This is to the chagrin of Everson Mayor John Perry.
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Perry said the decision to demolish the housing was made solely by the Bellingham Housing Authority. “This decision came shortly following the November 2021 floods and the timing couldn’t have been worse. We were already facing a severe shortage in available housing units due to the damage to 700 plus homes between Everson, Nooksack, and Sumas.”
Formerly 24 units of Section 514/516 Farm Labor Housing, Everson Meadows offered low-income housing for agricultural workers.
A look at Zillow showed the 3.003 acre property for sale at $1,035,000, with sale pending as of May 10. According to Zillow, the property is partially paved, zoned for multiple residential use.
According to Whatcom County Assessor’s records, the housing was built in 1989 and owned legally by Whatcom County Housing Authority. The property was comprised of 12 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units, as well as parking and a play area. Two of the apartments were ADA compliant.
In 1989, the Authority secured a United State Department of Agriculture, Rural Development (USDA-RD) grant to build the complex. Eligible applicants generally pay monthly rent of no more than 30% AMI (Area Median Income).
In a Sept. 23, 2022 account for NBC News online, correspondent Evan Bush said one resident, Vianney Cruz had received a notice she needed to vacate her place in the Everson Meadows apartment complex. She was working with caseworkers with the Whatcom Long-Term Recovery Group at the time.
The Authority told NBC it couldn’t justify renovating the apartments, in part, “because of climate change and flood risk.” Bellingham & Whatcom County Housing Authorities staff did not respond to Lynden Tribune requests for comments but an online account of a June 13, 2022 meeting outlined the decision made by the Authority to demolish and to move inhabitants to new locations.
That report was titled Relocation plan for Everson Meadows. According to this report, some of the units had no rental assistance. Those residents paid the established contract note rent for the property.
Perry said he was aware of the rehousing efforts.
“I know the Housing Authority offered them placement in some of their other facilities,” he said. “But the locations, Bellingham and Blaine, did not work for most families that had established roots here in Everson.”
Perry also said he was not sure how many of the families were able to stay in the Nooksack Valley School District.
“The USDA-RD program severely constrained extremely limited resources to maintain the property, resulting in significant deferred maintenance,” the report stated. “Everson Meadows paid off the loan on May 18, 2022, exiting the USDA-RD portfolio. As part of the program exit, the property no longer received rental assistance.”
In April 2021, WCHA completed a capital needs assessment which identified immediate and significant rehab needs that totaled approximately $5 million. The report outlined attempts to get funding but also stated the roofs and exteriors were at “considerable risk” in winter weather.
Elevating the structures above flood levels was not feasible. Following the report, and meeting, staff contacted each household and completed an assessment survey prior to the relocation performed before Oct. 31, 2022.
The Authority staff recommended relocating the households on site and preparing the site for sale. The report stated that proceeds from the sale “will be used to acquire or develop new, more financially sustainable and climate resilient housing opportunities for low-income residents within Whatcom County.”
Perry, who is also a building contractor and whose wife is involved in real estate, said he had wished for a different outcome.
“I’m disappointed in the Bellingham Housing Authority’s management of the facility and their decision to tear it down,” Perry said. “The units were built a little over 30 years ago and should have had many years of life left in them. Routine maintenance of the facility and some needed capital repairs could have brought the units back to a habitable standard at a fraction of the cost of building 24 new units at today’s cost.”
Perry also said he “found it ironic that the moment the USDA grant program expired, the units were deemed unsafe for residents.”
“Fortunately, two local developers are purchasing the property and plan to rebuild the units after the demolition is complete,” Perry said.
When asked about the new housing development approved by Everson City Council behind Everson Meadows in areas that had flooded, Perry said, “The housing development behind Everson Meadows is being built to our current standards of flood plain development. This includes elevating the first floor to a minimum of one foot above the 100 year Base Flood Elevation.”
