Blaine, WA--a town with potential?

[Nutterbug]

With the rapidly growing population and sprawl of the Greater Vancouver area just across the border, I thought it would make good economic sense to greatly develop and populate Blaine, WA, which is a small town just across the border from it.

A few things Blaine could use to get off the ground:


A shopping mall. One that is bigger and more complete than that dinky little shopping plaza just down the road from the Pacific Highway crossing, that meets all the basic needs of the typical cross-border shopper as well as the locals, while saving them the drive all the way to Bellingham, but not quite as big and extravagant as Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham, since it's bound to live at the mercy of the Canadian dollar and economy, which has its ups and downs, and the local market isn't big enough to support a big mall during hard times. It should consist of at least one anchor supermarket and two department stores, one of which should be a Target.
A train station. One advantage Blaine has over White Rock (where there would ideally be a stop) is that it is on the US side of the border, since the Amtrak Cascades can only have one stop on the Canadian side, due to Homeland Security restrictions. The train station could serve those living in the southern Lower Mainland with a more convenient place to board the train without going all the way to Pacific Central Station and back, as well as the locals, while attracting passengers to the area to boost its economy.
A row of shops, cafes and restaurants lining the waterfront to mirror and compete with those found in White Rock on the other side of the border.
Popular dining outlets not found in Canada. White Rock on the Canadian side can have its Tim Horton's, Boston Pizza, Earl's and Milestones, whereas Blaine can have a Jack-in-the-Box, Cheesecake Factory and whatever else is common over there. This would enrich the choices for residents on both sides of the border.


It's on a beautiful seaside location, and I figure this could give more US residents who either don't have a permit to reside in Canada or want to pay its taxes an area to live within close proximity to the Greater Vancouver area, while at the same time, give the US and Washington State a good way to suck some of its economy out of it.

[James Bond Agent 007]

Start building!

[Nutterbug]

We could use a binational metropolitan area around here. Kind of like Detroit-Windsor and Buffalo-Niagara.

[Fiat Lux]

Why not Point Roberts? It's closer to Vancouver.

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/ngm/0408/feature7/images/ft_hdr.7.jpg

[Nutterbug]

Why not Point Roberts? It's closer to Vancouver.

Point Roberts is kind of small and too detached from the rest of the US. You'd have to go through customs and immigration twice to go anywhere else within the same country.

Besides, most of the population growth and development in the GVRD is shifting towards Surrey, which is just across the border from Blaine anyways.

[James Bond Agent 007]

If the Canadian army invaded Point Roberts, I wonder if the US would bother defending it.

[WESTSEATTLEGUY]

It would give us a reason to take Vancouver! Yesssssss!

[Saturnfromboise]

If i remember when living in Blaine, kids in Point Roberts goes to school and gets bussed to Blaine through Canada. I havent lived in Blaine in 10 years though.

[Nutterbug]

If the Canadian army invaded Point Roberts, I wonder if the US would bother defending it.

I wonder if a sale of Point Roberts to Canada couldn't be negotiated, since it's bound to have a lot more development and economic potential if it weren't cut off from the rest of the Lower Mainland by a border crossing, not to mention the cost of maintaining the crossing for both sides.

[Fiat Lux]

If the Canadian army invaded Point Roberts, I wonder if the US would bother defending it.

I am sure there is an ex-marine or two that live there. They should be able to take care of the situation themselves.

[Mike K.]

If i remember when living in Blaine, kids in Point Roberts goes to school and gets bussed to Blaine through Canada. I havent lived in Blaine in 10 years though.

Yeah, and smuggle drugs in the process!

[Nutterbug]

With sky high gas prices, this idea is even more due. Seattle and Bellingham are too far away for casual cross-border shoppers, even with the higher Canadian dollar.

They should start by converting that strip mall at the corner of H Street and Pacific Highway into a full fledged shopping mall.

[SpongeG]

Commercial, housing proposed near Blaine Cost Cutter

BLAINE - Developers are proposing to build commercial spaces and homes just east of Blaine Cost Cutter, using the new townhomes to buffer the stores or offices from an existing neighborhood.

Lincoln Village would include about 26,000 square feet of commercial space, 29 townhouses and 45 apartments or condominiums on the south side of H Street, between Ludwick Avenue and Odell Road, city planner Michael Jones said. Townhouses and a three-story, multifamily-unit building with an underground parking garage would separate commercial buildings from houses to the east and northeast, he said.

"It makes a pretty good blending from commercial to residential by putting those townhouses in between," Jones said.

The maximum proposed building height would be set at 48 feet, according to a conceptual site plan. The commercial space would be separated into four buildings, one with a drive-up lane. Vehicle access would be from Odell Road and Ludwick Avenue.

Development partner Rick Osburn said the original inspiration for the project was Bellingham's Barkley Village.

"We think it's a good high-density development that will have good pedestrian accesses," he said. "I think it'd be a real asset to Blaine."

Residents would be able to walk to stores within the development or the nearby Blaine International Marketplace mall, he said.

Osburn is a partner in Harborside LLC, which is working with landowner RAC Enterprises to develop the five acres.

City staff just got the application and still has to decide that it's complete. The project would eventually go to the Planning Commission and then City Council for approval, but those meetings haven't been scheduled yet.

Osburn said he estimates it'll be approved next spring, and, depending on the market, construction could start in 2010. They plan to start with the commercial buildings first because the market for those is still strong, he said.

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/481977.html

[SpongeG]

With sky high gas prices, this idea is even more due. Seattle and Bellingham are too far away for casual cross-border shoppers, even with the higher Canadian dollar.

They should start by converting that strip mall at the corner of H Street and Pacific Highway into a full fledged shopping mall.

back in the late 80's early 90's there used to be a lot more for shoppers - that dead outlet mall was quite thriving

if i recall there used to be about 3 payless shoe stores in blaine - that was before the chain moved into canada

it would be nice but crossing the border is such a hassle if you have to endure the waiting and bad treatment by both sides of border guards you may as well go further south less frequently

way back in the mid 90's it was fast and fun and easy to cross the broder late at night to get some ben and jerrys - again it wasn't available in BC at the time... me and my room mate did a few late night crossings than :( now its not worth it

[Hot Rod]

You could be on to something SpongeG. But I hope Canada tries to take Pt Roberts, so we can take Vancouver....

Much better option Vancouver coming to us (or rather, maybe Washington can join Canada, even better).

[Ripcurrent]

There's NO doubt that Blaine and Birch Bay have potential but........A full-fledged shopping mall isn't necessary and would only serve the convenience of Canadians who don't feel like driving 25 more miles to Bellis Fair Mall in Bellingham.
Don't they have shopping malls in the Vancouver/Surrey area?
The Canadians are notorious for their "day trips" across the border into Whatcom County, where they drive like idiots, think they own the place, unwrap their purchases while still in the parking lot at Bellis Fair and trash the parking lot so as to avoid duty fees, then flee back into Canada like cockroaches when the lights go on at the end of the day.
As for Pt. Roberts...........yeah, it makes NO sense that this community is even a part of the US at all. A simple re-drawing of the border and a signature could take care of that town. Canada may as well have it due to the sheer hassle of those Americans residing there!
Personally, from an American's point of view.........I say KEEP Blaine small, peaceful and quiet and don't allow it to become part of the Vancouver suburbs which IS what Canadians truly wish for!
They already managed to get their Northwoods Crossing Casino built near Lynden for THEIR convenience but it's very obvious as to WHO actually runs the show in Whatcom County Washington.......and it ain't Americans!
As for the the border crossing............
To all the lengthy lines and passport requirements now (or soon) in place..... they should provide a variety of fast food options, complete with bellhops on rollerskates at each gate to tend to all the hungry and thirsty fools stuck in long lines waiting to cross the border!
Border/Customs/burger-flippin agents who will graciously provide you some food while they determine if you are a potential terrorist or a pot-smugglin' mule.
How's THAT for a business idea? :jester:

[twoNeurons]

Don't they have shopping malls in the Vancouver/Surrey area?
The Canadians are notorious for their "day trips" across the border into Whatcom County, where they drive like idiots, think they own the place, unwrap their purchases while still in the parking lot at Bellis Fair and trash the parking lot so as to avoid duty fees, then flee back into Canada like cockroaches when the lights go on at the end of the day.


One thing I love about crossing the border and driving around Bellingham is the drivers. You can definitely see the difference, that's true. Has more to do with "congested city drivers" being rude vs. countryside though. You always notice that when you're on the highway. The locals pull over and let you pass. The Vancouverites don't. They jealously protect their lane like it would be evil to let someone else pass.

That's pretty common. The more congestion a city has, the worse it is. Also partly cultural, if people come from countries that are more "every man for themselves"

[OhGreatOne]

There are a couple of HUGE shopping malls in Burnaby, a large eastern suburb of Vancouver: Lougheed Mall (just under 200 stores) and Metropolis at Metrotown Centre (around 450 stores). Still, I imagine that the drive through both US and Canadian Customs would not likely deter many of the shoppers in Surrey (population in excess of 450,000) from shopping in Blaine. A shopping mall would, effectively, make Blaine the only US city that is a suburb of a foreign entity. (Windsor is sufficiently independent of Detroit that it is usually not considered part of the Detroit area.) Blaine's proximity to Surrey already seems to bind it to the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) than its US neighbour, Bellingham.

BTW, there is a terrific Thai restaurant 'bout a mile south of the Peace Arch.

[Rusty Gull]

A shopping mall would, effectively, make Blaine the only US city that is a suburb of a foreign entity. (Windsor is sufficiently independent of Detroit that it is usually not considered part of the Detroit area.) Blaine's proximity to Surrey already seems to bind it to the GVRD (Greater Vancouver Regional District) than its US neighbour, Bellingham.


What about Fort Erie, which is considered a Canadian suburb of Buffalo?