Followup: 36th/Morgan house, center of neighbors’ concerns, now boarded up

The house at 36th and Morgan that has been a hotspot of concern for its neighbors is boarded up tonight, with NO TRESPASSING signs.

It came to light here five weeks ago after this Crime Watch report about a suspected thief being chased there. In comments on that story, neighbors described frequently reporting the house to authorities for concerns including suspected stolen property. Then it came up at the West Seattle Crime Prevention Council meeting two weeks later (WSB coverage here), where City Attorney’s Office precinct liaison Melissa Chin talked about what could be done to deal with the situation. And late today, we got a tip about the boards and signs. We checked with Chin, who tells us that the owner had been under pressure from not only her office but also Seattle Police, the Department of Planning and Development (which had issued a citation for junk storage), and King County Public Health – so, Chin said, the owner “voluntarily kicked out the tenant, posted up ‘No Trespassing’ signs, cleaned up the yard, and told us she was going to board up the house.” Which, as our photo shows, was done. Meantime, the man whose arrest was noted in the original report has, so far, not been charged.

18 Replies to "Followup: 36th/Morgan house, center of neighbors' concerns, now boarded up"

  • burglarbustindad October 4, 2012 (10:38 pm)

    Sweet!

  • homedk October 4, 2012 (11:03 pm)

    This made my day! So glad to hear that the tenants and visitors are gone, as they caused stress for so many in the nearby neighborhood and for passers-by. This house is along my regular running route, and many times I felt intimidated and/or unsafe on either side of the street as I passed by and apparently interrupted a transaction of some sort. Kudos to everyone involved in getting this place shut down!

  • old timer October 4, 2012 (11:03 pm)

    Wow – that’s an improvement to the neighborhood?
    Looks like tagger heaven being born.
    Any word on how long the owner proposes to let this ruin fester?

  • Neighbor October 4, 2012 (11:16 pm)

    Thank you Ms. Chin, and all the neighbors for making this happen!

  • Neighbor October 4, 2012 (11:18 pm)

    And we (the neighbors who have been beating our heads against the wall for the last 6 years to get someone to do something about this) wait with bated breath to see if the owner is telling the truth this time, or whether the illicit activity will continue behind the boards in the windows. While we’re hopeful that the house will be boarded up for good, shady characters are still hanging out on the property at all hours of the day and night. This is extremely frustrating.

  • Eric October 5, 2012 (4:56 am)

    Oh come on! Wasn’t this guy in possesion of stolen mail, a supposed Federal offense? Why hasn’t this guy been charged?

  • kayo October 5, 2012 (6:35 am)

    Neighbors can make a difference by being watchful and persistent. Excellent work.

  • Lank October 5, 2012 (8:19 am)

    Don’t be ungrateful. Clearly, even after a long wait, neighborhood diligence has paid off. Stick with it and maybe the owner will rent or sell the house to someone who will contribute to the neighborhood in a positive way.

  • Watchdog October 5, 2012 (8:48 am)

    I’m skeptical on this too. I’m curious to see if there isn’t traffic anymore into this house, but now it looks like a meth house with the windows all boarded up and the no trespassing signs everywhere.

  • WSratsinacage October 5, 2012 (9:24 am)

    6 years? Wow. Amazing how long someting like this could go on for. 6 months or a year should be the maximum. Unacceptable except maybe in an emerging nation.

  • Beverly October 5, 2012 (9:43 am)

    Thanks to those who worked so diligently to get this far. Although I live several blocks away we have been hit in this neighborhood and now will make a point of driving by everyday and calling 911 if we see anyone in the yard.

  • 39th and Morgan October 5, 2012 (10:25 am)

    Thanks for this report. I drove by the house last night and saw it was boarded up, I was going to ask in the “Fourm” today if anyone knew what was going on. I wish I had know about this place (and the illegal activity)last year, when half my belongings in my shed went missing and my bike a few years before that. I want to thank all the neighbors who were diligent in ending this situation, the police and city officials. C

  • Liz October 5, 2012 (1:23 pm)

    I am thrilled that they are leaving but as of this morning the people living there were still there. Isn’t it a fire hazard to live someplace with no window exits??? Who can get them out??

    • WSB October 5, 2012 (1:34 pm)

      Have you called police? I think it IS a hazard. Also e-mail Melissa – who’s at melissa.chin@seattle.gov

  • Liz October 5, 2012 (2:54 pm)

    Thanks! I would like them out ASAP! I would also like to see the doors boarded up so no one can enter and stay at the house.

  • PSG October 6, 2012 (4:53 am)

    Tenants twazzled by the hoods NO Geetterred Gaphlin Zone.Hopes hood/Pigs see boards over windows and one less snitch and the heat
    from the hood will ease up so they can continue tweaking and stealing.Instead of dealing with the real reason this house was brought to the forefront.Return the stolen goods to thier rightful owners and get off the dope.The boards on the windows are not getting our property back only keeping us from watching what’s going on in that toxic tweak tomb.Board the doors up and go away all of you.
    or get some serious help so you wont be a complete failure toyour

  • Been There October 6, 2012 (7:45 am)

    Vacant, boarded up houses are NOT allowed to be occupied. Also, one door is required to be useable per city code for fire fighter ingress.
    http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/dclu/publications/cam/cam605.pdf

  • Neighbor October 6, 2012 (8:36 am)

    The landlord says the house will be “vacant” by Wednesday. Anyone then on the property is a trespasser and the police / city attorney have informed us to call 9-1-1 after Wednesday for anyone who is on the property.

    And it’s not that we are ungrateful – just realistic. This is a 6 year on-going problem that took hours of our time. Just hoping it sticks.

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