Unusual side effect of sewer-storage project: ‘Garage sale’ ad brings out deputies, crime tape at Lowman Beach

| Utilities | West Seattle news

We first heard about this at midmorning, when Richard sent a note about a King County Sheriff’s Deputy and “crime tape” at a home across from Lowman Beach. We suspected it had something to do with the county taking over that property and others, for the future Murray Pump Station Combined Sewer Overflow project, which will replace the residences across from Lowman Beach with a million-gallon underground storage tank and its support faciliities. When we got there for a photo early this afternoon, that looked so obviously to be the case, we didn’t even seek out the deputy who was parked there, figuring we’d go look up property records.

Then while back at HQ we got a note from Robin, who said she had seen a Craigslist ad about a garage sale at the address today, got there at 10 am – and instead of a sale, she found a (different – in a KCSO car, while this afternoon, it was Burien PD) deputy, the house cordoned off with crime tape, and NO TRESPASSING signs put up:

She says the deputy who was there at the time explained that the renters already had moved out and the sale listing was “fake,” one of those “everything including the fixtures are for sale” listings. We looked around online and saw some corroboration of this on CL:

Further searches showed some hint of the original post, but it’s already been removed, even from caching. Online county records confirm this site is now owned by the county; the sale closed December 30th, but the purchase price is not listed. We’re seeking further info from the Sheriff’s Office (such as, was anyone arrested?) and will also be researching the ownership status of the other properties on the block – the county’s timetable calls for demolition as soon as this spring, though construction isn’t expected to start till next year. More info on today’s incident, as we get it.

Diane January 14, 2012 (3:58 pm)

I spent my first Thanksgiving in Seattle in that top apt; sad to see it go

CandrewB January 14, 2012 (4:01 pm)

So it takes about two months and a court order to evict a bunch of homeless, self-proclaimed, vandalizing anarchists from a vacant Central District property, but a fake Craig’s List ad brings out a City of Burien (?) and King County patrol car. Of course this being City of Seattle jurisdiction and they were no where to be seen.

coffee January 14, 2012 (4:22 pm)

Why would a Burien PD be handling this? Just wondering.

WSB January 14, 2012 (5:00 pm)

sorry, I should have elaborated, Coffee, I was on my way out the door again. Burien PD is part of the King County Sheriff’s Office, on contract, and since this is county property, they were subsequently guarding it. So sometimes if you are at a Big Deal in White Center, for example, you will see Burien PD (and a few other related agencies), because they’re all part of the same team despite the different uniforms … TR

CandrewB January 14, 2012 (5:21 pm)

In that area, where does Seattle end and King County begin?

CandrewB January 14, 2012 (5:23 pm)

Did those properties have to pay Monorail taxes? Just asking since I have not heard of County property being within Seattle boundaries.

WSB January 14, 2012 (5:56 pm)

Sorry, I am guilty of not enough background on a longrunning story.
.
This is in the city of Seattle. Plain ol’ regular Seattle residential property until just now.
.
The county – which is responsible for the sewer system – decided, after a long process we covered extensively (but I’m sure many people who don’t live near or frequent Lowman Beach didn’t read the stories) over the past few years, that to reduce Combined Sewer Overflows – as the state and feds require – they are going to build a million-gallon storage tank.
.
The CSO’s that are being reduced here are the ones that happen at Murray Pump Station across the street at Lowman Beach Park in times of heavy rain.
.
So they are buying the properties in this entire residential block – and if anyone doesn’t want to sell, tough, it will be taken by eminent domain.
.
The county bought this property less than a month ago, records show; one adjacent parcel was sold in late November; the rest are still listed under private ownership but one way or another, they will be county-owned within a few months, before they are demolished.
.
TR

Gini Johnson January 14, 2012 (5:36 pm)

One of the homes (duplex) belongs to one of our clients. He is a fabulous builder and what he was going to build on the site would knock your socks off! Stunning to say the least. I am so sad that the county has to take and use this amazing site. :(

WSB January 14, 2012 (5:46 pm)

I just noticed while checking records for the rest of the block that one of the sites had a demolition permit in 2010, seeking to build somethine new. Otherwise, only one of the other sites is on the record as county-owned … we’ll be checking Tuesday (gov’t is closed Monday) on where everything else stands … TR

metrognome January 14, 2012 (8:03 pm)

CandrewB — no one paid property taxes for the monorail …
And, there is plenty of county-owned property within the Seattle city limits, such as the county courthouse in downtown, which is protected by county sheriff deputies … as are Metro buses, no matter where they are in the county. It makes perfect sense that the county sheriff, rather than SPD, would protect county property in a situation like this.

CandrewB January 14, 2012 (9:38 pm)

Metrognome, I understand property taxes did not fund the Monorail. However, your car tab encumbrance was predicated by your Seattle address. I was asking if the County owned the domicile, if the residents had to pay Monorail taxes as a way to determine jurisdiction.

KBear January 15, 2012 (2:49 am)

CandrewB, I think you misunderstand. This is not an island of unincorporated King County surrounded by City of Seattle. It is simply property within the city which happens to be owned by the county. It is still part of Seattle.