BURIEN, Wash. — Frustrations are mounting after some people who were living at a homeless encampment that had just been cleared outside Burien’s City Hall and Library building have moved to a space a block away.
The campers were forced off the property in downtown Burien on Friday. Shortly after, tents appeared on an empty lot on Southwest 152nd Street and Sixth Avenue Southwest.
The property is owned by the city and is overlooked by condominiums, which is where Kent Stock lives.
“It’s not fit for humans and there’s no bathroom facilities. Dogs have been using it for their toilet for many years, it can’t be very healthy for people who live there,” said Stock.
Stock says his neighbors have the same concerns.
“I haven’t heard any positive remarks, it’s all people really upset,” said Stock.
Burien’s City Council meeting on Monday turned into a three-hour debate about how to handle the issue.
“People are not going to go out at night for dinner or anywhere else if they don’t feel comfortable walking around. Our property values are going to go to hell, and I would ask any of you, do you want this environment in your backyard?” said Burien resident David Gould.
The city said the area that’s been taken over is owned by the city and is an “unclassified dog park.” There’s no law prohibiting camping on public property, other than parks.
Burien City Manager Adolfo Bailon says part of the problem was a lack of alternative housing for those in that original camp.
“For five weeks we tried to get beds available for people living outside of this building and in one instance we tried for over a year to try to get beds for two individuals,” said Bailon.
The Burien City Council released the following statement on Friday, Mar. 31, the day that campers had to move:
Today the Burien Condo Association began enforcement of their new policy which bans overnight camping on the Burien Library and City Hall property. The prohibition is part of a new code of conduct the Burien Condo Association adopted.
Service providers have been working intensively to find housing or shelter for the people living in tents.
The Burien Condo Association, a legal agreement between King County Library System (KCLS) and City of Burien, was formed in 2010 when the shared civic building housing the Burien Library and Burien City Hall opened. The Burien Library and City Hall building is managed through the Burien Condo Association. City staff and KCLS staff sit on the board. Changes in building policy, including new codes of conduct, must be approved by the Burien Condo Association.
City of Burien staff are aware that some individuals have moved their tents and belongings to a property owned by the City of Burien in downtown Burien on 152nd St. The City of Burien does not have a law that prohibits camping on public property, with the narrow exception of dedicated park spaces. This land is not park property and therefore is not subject to the park policy banning overnight camping.
The City of Burien is currently reviewing options to address community concerns.
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