The operator and property owners of 1010 S. Dearborn Street have written to Mayor Ed Murray and Seattle council members, asking for help in vacating the property that has been a site for temporary tent encampment since September 2014.
The letter explains that Coho Real Estate, the owner of the property, entered into an agreement with the Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd to allow the church to sponsor a temporary encampment with Nickelsville “so that homeless men, women and children would have a safe place to live.”
The encampment also received help from social workers through the Low Income Housing Institute. The operation of the encampment, like many others, depended on a healthy, drug-and-alcohol-free policy.
The letter states: “The campers voted to disassociate themselves with Nickelsville and to operate independently on their own. Pastor Steve Olsen met with campers last week and they refused to reconsider.”
On Feb. 13, the church said they gave campers a seven-day notice to vacate the site by Feb. 20 at 12:01a.m., as the church would no longer serve as the religious sponsor of the encampment as required in the temporary permit issued by the city.
The letter continues: “Since January 28, 2016, the condition of the camp has deteriorated dramatically. The previous prohibition against drugs, drug selling and intoxication is now routinely flouted. The majority of former residents have responded by leaving. Those remaining have voted to reject the arrangements made with the property owner and Good Shepherd.”
The church, LIHI and Coho Real Estate told the city they believe camp leaders include those known to have engaged in petty theft and drug running.
“New residents and visitors include those previously barred, and include individuals known to prey on vulnerable people. Those remaining have given up trying to keep the place secure from barred individuals, or to keep out people who prey on residents of the jungle.”
[ The Jungle is where five people were shot on Jan. 26. Two of them were killed. ]
A woman was also murdered the Dearborn encampment last March.
The organizations said entry to the camp is now uncontrolled, and they are unable to operate a safe, drug-and-alcohol-free community at 1010 S. Dearborn.
They close the letter in saying “Without the cooperation of property owners who can rely on the city, the effort to provide shelter in Seattle commensurate with the need will be reduced. We have been dedicated to maintaining the site as a safe place for temporary shelter for many of our city’s neediest residents. We make this request to clear the property with heavy hearts.”