A portion of Holly Street in downtown Bellingham will close to allow businesses extra space as they work to follow COVID-19 guidelines.

It’s the first of several street closures that the City of Bellingham says are designed to help businesses thrive by providing extra space for social distancing.

All lanes of Holly Street between Commercial Street and Bay Street will become a summer plaza beginning July 15.

Partial closures of Railroad Avenue and 10th Street in Fairhaven will follow.