Port of Bellingham proposes $5.9 million purchase of Hilton Avenue seafood facilities

The Port of Bellingham is asking its commission to approve a $5.9 million purchase of three buildings at 1001 Hilton Ave. The move would transfer ownership of the structures from Bornstein Seafoods, Inc. and Starlight One, L.L.C. to the Port, which already owns the land beneath them.

Bornstein has leased the parcel from the Port for decades. The site sits on the I & J Waterway and contains roughly 35,100 square feet of marine industrial space. Bornstein first listed the buildings for sale in August 2024.

Public funds already support the infrastructure at this location. Between 2024 and 2026, the Port and Bornstein completed the first phase of a waterway cleanup overseen by the Washington State Department of Ecology. Workers removed approximately 18,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment from the water in front of the buildings. The project also included replacing the bulkhead and constructing new piles and a dock. That construction cost just over $20 million.

A fire damaged one of the buildings in September 2026. The proposed $5.9 million price reflects the cost to repair that structure. The commission will also consider adding a $1.23 million line item to the 2027 budget for further fire restoration work.

Tiffany DeSimone, executive director of the Port of Bellingham, stated that keeping working waterfront jobs in Bellingham is a top priority. She noted the site has supported the fishing industry for generations. DeSimone said owning the buildings protects the moorage and dockage on the I & J Waterway and maintains the Port's commitment to the Marine Trades area.

Dan Tucker, executive director of the Working Waterfront Coalition of Whatcom County, said the facility has provided jobs for decades on the waterfront. He expressed hope that the transfer will allow the site to continue serving the commercial fishing and seafood processing industries in Whatcom County.

The Port Commission will review the purchase sale agreement under action items during its regular meeting on Nov. 17, 2026. The public may attend the meeting in person or watch online.