Excuse me in advance but I’m going to gush for a minute about one of my favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham: Columbia!
This neighborhood is known for having a super strong sense of community. People who buy in Columbia tend to stay there for a very long time. There are many families in Columbia, but there’s also a ton of people that are retired; many folks have raised their kids in that neighborhood and still own, love and enjoy their homes. There are kids running around everywhere.
Ice cream trucks love to visit the streets of Columbia in the summertime.
People also love their dogs in this neighborhood. After hours, the playground at Columbia Elementary (a stately brick building situated in the middle of the neighborhood) becomes an off-leash dog park. While kids swing and slide on the play equipment, dog parents throw balls for their furry kids, and simultaneously everyone tends to socialize.
Playground at Columbia Elementary
Playground at Columbia Elementary
Walkability of the Columbia Neighborhood
Depending on where you live in the Columbia neighborhood, you will be walkable to downtown. I’ve walked from Columbia to downtown in about 20 minutes. Get on your bike and it will takes 5 minutes.
Restaurants in the Columbia Neighborhood
Goods Local Brews (a local tap house with a taco food truck reliably parked on-site) is located in the neighborhood, as well as Elizabeth Station (best pizza!) and Narrative Coffee. You’re also walkable to the restaurants and breweries on Meridian Street in the Fountain District, including Zeeks Pizza and Diamond Jim’s (a greasy spoon brunch spot).
Goods, the best place to grab a casual beer and tacos… or in December, buy Christmas trees!
Parks in the Columbia Neighborhood
Elizabeth Park is a large park that sits at the entrance of the Columbia neighborhood. There’s playground equipment, tennis/pickleball courts, and a lot of open space for walking or picnicking while you enjoy a beautiful and charming canopy of mature trees. Other parks include Carl Lobe and Lorraine Ellis.
Home Prices in the Columbia Neighborhood
The desirability of the neighborhood translates into a higher median sales prices than some other neighborhoods in Bellingham. The average sales price in Columbia in 2023 was $758,000, about 20% higher than the average sales price of Bellingham as a whole. Also, while there are some large historic stately homes (especially bordering Elizabeth Park), there’s also a lot of small bungalows. And people will get very creative in how to fit into said tiny bungalows! People sacrifice space (large closets, extra bathrooms, usable garages) for the neighborhood vibes.
A Day in the Life - in the Columbia Neighborhood
Below is a short video that features me and my dog running around some of the aforementioned favorite spots of Columbia… enjoy!
If you want to learn more about some of my favorite neighborhoods in Bellingham, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I love to share my knowledge.
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