SEATTLE — The city of Seattle is working to clear a homeless camp in south Seattle that neighbors say has grown more than two city blocks in size.
The city says it will take several weeks to clear out the site.
Workers were seen on Thursday hauling out chunks of metal, chain-link fences, and other debris, maneuvering past stacks of tires and wooden structures topped with tarps.
Witnesses say they removed cars and propane tanks the day before.
The sprawling homeless camp on 42nd Avenue S. sits on private property, including on Jay Wampold’s land.
“Back in 2024, believe it or not, there was one car and some garbage here,” he said.
As the camp grew, Wampold says he and other neighbors tried to clean it up and put up fences around the property.
“We actually tried to take steps on our own to deal with this. And the city said, no, you have to work in coordination with the Seattle Police Department.”
But he says police failed to keep people from trespassing on the property. He says problems grew worse, including a deadly shooting last year, and gunfire again in recent weeks.
Seattle police would not confirm the recent shooting, but in a statement, the city of Seattle said a recent violent incident is prompting the camp’s removal for safety.
In a statement, the city’s Human Services Department said:
“A recent violent incident elevated the situation to an imminent threat to public safety, prompting issuance of Emergency Orders on Sept. 29, 2026.
SDCI (Seattle Department of Construction and Inspection), the Unified Care Team, and SPD (Seattle Police Department) are working in parallel to ensure a coordinated response on both public and private property, offer support to individuals, and complete cleanup across all affected parcels and public right-of-way.
We will be able to share data about the number of people impacted and shelter referrals after the resolution effort is complete."
“We’re just over here helping some people move and stuff like that,” said Kay, a former camp resident who requested KIRO 7 not use her last name.
Some of the camp residents say they’ve been offered shelter.
“People down there have until tomorrow, I think, to get the rest of their stuff. And then Friday, apparently, is when they’re going to sweep the rest of the stuff right here,” she said.
The clearing comes a little too late for Wampold. He and other property owners have filed a claim against the city, which could lead to a lawsuit. They accuse the city of failing to clear the camp while telling property owners it couldn’t.
Even with the cleanup underway, Wampold says he’s not ready to terminate that claim. He says he’s concerned the campers might come back and that the city will do nothing to keep them from staying.
KIRO 7 has reached out to the Office of City Finance for comment on the tort claim but has not heard back.