FOLLOWUP: 9029 16th SW demolition finally begins

In the ongoing saga of 9029 16th SW, site of three house-fire calls in five years, demolition is finally under way right now – a week and a half after the heavy equipment arrived. We first went by around 9 this morning; workers were at the site for the first time we’d seen since the backhoe’s arrival two Fridays ago, so we made a note to go back at noon, and that’s when we recorded the short clip above, as work had finally begun.


(WSB photo from February 25th fire)

After the big fire back in February, the city had ordered the owners to do something about what was left of the house; the detached building behind it is boarded up but otherwise untouched as of noon, so we’ll check on it later. The owners have a redevelopment plan in the permit pipeline, for what’s described only as a “mixed-use building.”

8 Replies to "FOLLOWUP: 9029 16th SW demolition finally begins"

  • John Smith May 15, 2017 (12:48 pm)

    I’m happy they finally started to work on it because I have been living here for almost 5 years and had to look at this house whenever I walked home from college, the store, Downtown Seattle, etc. Thank you to the people who finally did something about it. 

  • Archie May 15, 2017 (2:42 pm)

    The owners have a redevelopment plan in the permit pipeline, for what’s described only as a “mixed-use building.”

    With such responsible  owners, I’m positive the new mixed-use building will be a total success.

    • Kimbee2 May 16, 2017 (1:02 pm)

      @Archie:  Not trying to defend the owners, but want to let you know how the city system works. At present, any owner/ developer cannot tear down a vacant property until they have a complete application under review for a new development. It appears this developer has been trying to pull down both buildings at the same time but the existing rules have stood in the way.  https://westseattleblog.com/2017/03/followup-why-fire-gutted-9029-16th-sw-is-still-semi-standing/

      The City Council is working on a solution to bypass the existing demolition rules so vacant buildings can be torn down rather than trying to enforce the owner into “maintaining” them. Like all city processes making this change is taking a very long time and still needs ongoing public pressure, community advocacy and awesome press reporting (thank you WSB) to make it happen.  

      If you wish to be an advocate for our community around this issue, or others please join us at the next community meeting in the area. Info here: Highland Park: https://hpacinfo.wordpress.com/  South Delridge: https://southdelridge.blogspot.com/ Westwood: https://wwrhah.wordpress.com/

      • WSB May 16, 2017 (1:48 pm)

        I mentioned this in one of last week’s stories but a City Council committee was due to take the first look today at the proposal for changing the rules about how to handle vacant buildings. I wasn’t able to monitor the meeting but hope to watch the Seattle Channel video later and see what happened and what’s next. – TR

  • M May 15, 2017 (3:07 pm)

    Grateful to you, WSB, for keeping this on your radar. 

  • AMD May 15, 2017 (6:03 pm)

    At the end of their work today, the house in the front (the one we’re used to seeing in pictures) is completely down, leaving a pile of rubble to be hauled away.

    The house in the back is still there, so far untouched by the demo equipment.

    Hopefully we don’t have to wait another week for them to start tearing down the back house.  Or remove the pile of refuse.

  • BlairJ May 17, 2017 (11:48 am)

    The rubble pile is gone.

    • AMD May 19, 2017 (5:54 pm)

      So is the construction equipment, sadly, given that the other house still remains.

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