WWU’s historic Armory building bought by local businessmen

6-14-2018

BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Two local businessmen now own the Armory property in Bellingham after buying it from the Western Washington University Foundation for $1.5 million.

Western Today reports Pete Dawson, the president of Dawson Construction, and Curt O’Connor, who owns a real estate investment firm, have been considering the building’s potential for years.

Dawson collaborated with RMC Architects to resurrect what is now the Waples Mercantile Building, and now he and O’Connor want to do the same with the historic Armory building by giving it a new use, while also preserving it.

The Armory, built in 1910, has had multiple uses over the years including a roller rink, and most recently, a storage space.