BELLINGHAM, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Plans are moving forward to repurpose the site of a former homeless shelter in Bellingham.

The Whatcom Transportation Authority (WTA) Board of Directors approved the $6.2 million purchase of the Public Market property on Cornwall Avenue on Thursday, Oct. 3. The former Lighthouse Mission Base Camp shelter was replaced by a new facility in Old Town with expanded capacity last year.

My Bellingham Now previously reported that WTA plans to renovate the property for offices and other tenant space while also building a new bus station there.

WTA spokesperson Maureen McCarthy says the current Bellingham Station is maxed out at 10 gates and can’t add any new routes or increase frequency on current routes. Construction of the new station on Cornwall is expected to start in 2030 at the earliest and will expand the station to 20 gates.

McCarthy adds that, after receiving community input, WTA is interested in meeting with a private developer to add a mix of workforce and market-rate housing at the property. In the meantime, WTA plans to use the building for office space and rent it out to others for the same use starting in early 2026.

The purchase is expected to close on Oct. 20.