What to consider when moving to the Puget Neighborhood

Puget Neighborhood residents living on the lower side of Lakeway Drive have found some frustrations regarding the costs and damages of living below the City of Bellingham's sewer line. This has required the purchase of heavier duty sewage pumps, whereas other Puget homes have their sewage pumps taken care of. 

For all people looking to move into the neighborhood, or for all who are considering moving to a different part of Puget, it is essential to know the neighborhood before one picks their destination.

There are homes in the Puget Neighborhood that fall below the sewer line that are built on or at the end of hills just north of Lakeway Drive. 

The Puget Basemap, provides useful information about the Neighborhood boundaries. The homes that experience issues with sewage are those on the right of Lakeway (from the view of the Basemap). Streets such as St. Paul St., Toledo St. and Undine St. are built on downward hills. 

Although the location of one’s home in proximity to the sewer line is something to consider, it is only one of the many aspects to contemplate when searching for a home. 

For those with young children, there are many places in the Puget neighborhood that would be great to live in if you are looking for a quick walk to a playground, park or activity center.

The green areas on the City of Bellingham's Puget neighborhood map display the neighborhood’s public areas. These are the areas that would be best to take children on a sunny afternoon. The streets surrounding the Civic Center and Carl Cozier Elementary have great play areas for children including an Aquatic Center and playgrounds. The Whatcom Creek Trail is also in this area, which would be a great place to walk with a stroller.

For those who are looking for more efficient ways to get to work or school, the circulation map displays the best bike routes in relation to other parts of the city. It also displays truck routes, so that one can be aware of the more congested areas in the Puget neighborhood before purchasing a home. 

Sound Proofing a Room to Keep the Neighbors Away

The city of Bellingham is filled with aspiring artists who are looking to make it big in the music industry. I recently spoke with Bellingham Folk and Rock n' Roll musicians who have constructed a basement studio in a Puget neighborhood home.

Whether you want a safe space to to play music or a fun room for your children to be as loud as they wish, there are some fast, easy and cheap methods to sound proofing a room. This will prevent disruption in your neighborhood, or even from one room to the rest in a home.

You have already put time and money into your living space, so sound-proofing a room can be an efficient task without late nights or breaking the bank.

According to DIY Network there are two steps in completing this task.

According to Wiki, you can use everyday household items to cover up the sound.

If you are an aspiring artist looking to build a studio and willing to spend more time on a sound-deafening project, click here.

Since the Puget Neighborhood is highly residential, it is essential to know ways to sound proof a room for all parents who are looking to nourish the dreams of aspiring musicians in the family. With these links above, now you can accomplish these goals with whichever levels of time and energy you may desire.

Bellingham Rock Community gathers at Puget Neighborhood home

Local bands gather in the basement of a house in the Puget neighborhood weekly as a place to practice, meet fellow musicians and to expand the Bellingham music community.

The house which is located at 420 Edwards Street, has been a spot to play music for about three years but is just now becoming a local hot spot for bands, according to Joel Kenworthy, the lead Saxophonist for the band Actionesse.

The house which consists of five Rock n’ Roll and Folk musicians has become a central place for bands to hold weekly practices.

The studio is lined with sound deafening equipment and has been filled with over ten amplifiers, a communal drum set and an assortment of acoustic instruments, according to Benferd Rollins, a member of the house and of the local band Rivers and Roads.

“This house has become the crossroads for up and coming musicians in Bellingham,” said Kenworthy. 

According to the lead Guitarist for the band Moonhat, Sam Bolt, the house studio has allowed bands such as River and Roads the space in order to practice and flourish in shows.

“This is a strange and meaningful time for musicians in Bellingham because a number of classic bands that have held the scene together are either changing line ups or splitting apart,” said Bolt. 

“There are a lot of musicians right now who are looking to make connections through different jam spaces like our house.”

In the basement studio, it is common for one person to start on the drums and for a guitarist to chime in, according to Rollins.

“It is important in the musical process for people to have the liberty to expand their horizons and to experience playing with different people,” said Bolt.

Kenworthy agrees that it is essential for bands to have a community space in order for new music to be created.

“What you’re practicing when you play music in spaces like the studio, is the interaction of musicians with one another. To change and rotate the membership of who is playing allows bands to be more proficient. It is like immersive learning of the language of music,” said Kenworthy.

According to Bolt, having the space and available equipment has greatly benefited individual bands as well.

“It has been a very important process for our band Moonhat in getting ourselves together, having a comfortable and consistent environment in which to write songs and arrange music. I don’t think we would be able to accomplish anything that we have if it weren’t for having a place like our home to get together,” said Bolt.

Bolt has noticed the benefits of the studio on Rollin’s band, Rivers and Roads after hearing them practice multiple times a week and then hearing them flourish in local Bellingham bars and venues.

The members of the Edwards Street house have created a strict curfew as a respect to neighbors, at which all musicians must stop playing by 10:00 p.m.

There has been no noise complaints from surrounding residents.

Creating this respectful environment in the neighborhood has allowed the studio to continue becoming a spot where musicians feel welcome and encouraged to chime in, according to Bolt.

“It is nice to be able to provide the space for people to find an outlet for their creativity. It is really enlightening to be exposed to people who are comfortable playing music and sharing what they love to do,” said Bolt. “I am privileged to be in a place where I so commonly come across people who are making something out of their creative desires.”

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