UPDATE: Here’s why the new Alki Beach restrooms were out of service

ORIGINAL TUESDAY REPORT: The city’s year-old restroom building at 57th/Alki has portable toilets outside because it’s out of service. Several people have asked about this; we took the question to Seattle Parks. One reader said they’d been told it was a “plumbing problem,” so we started by asking Parks about that. Spokesperson Rachel Schulkin replied, “We were having a plumbing issue but it’s fixed = now we’re having an issue with the remote locking system. The doors are locking whenever closed, and have to be manually unlocked each time. We are working on a fix now, no timeline on reopening just yet.” Remote locking was also blamed for the delay in opening the comfort station after its completion in 2021; the city is using the technology to cut down on after-hours vandalism citywide.

WEDNESDAY MORNING: Parks says they’re open again. …. And our crew has just confirmed it.

Flo B January 10, 2023 (5:56 pm)

Saw a lock and key business changing out the locks and handles on this restroom over a week ago. Replaced locks and handles didn’t work either??

Kyle January 10, 2023 (8:06 pm)

Should read “The city is using the technology to cut down on actual bathroom use citywide.” :)

Markonalki January 10, 2023 (10:01 pm)

Or the vandalism of such assets. The graffiti is disgusting
Jay January 11, 2023 (10:04 am)

Yep. I often walk the beach outside of the very limited opening hours and I’m not too proud to admit to relieving myself on the sand or sea wall when no bathroom is available within a 30 minute walk.

Frog January 10, 2023 (9:46 pm)

Whatever, a pair of honey buckets next to a new $600K restroom is classic Seattle.

star 55 January 10, 2023 (10:13 pm)

These bathroom seems to have been closed more than open.

Lola January 11, 2023 (7:43 am)

They don’t want to clean them when they are open so they figure why open them at all? I have never seen so many problems with public bathrooms than Alki has. Next they will be blaming that they do not have enough employee’s to take care of them so let’s just keep them permanently closed. We have just paid for some very expensive private toilets for the Parks & Recreation to use for them-selves.

Flo B January 11, 2023 (12:46 pm)

Lola. As a daily walker on Alki it’s been the same guy for years that has been cleaning(?) them. He’s there early-before 8. As i live close never had to use one of the restrooms so can’t say what their cleanliness level is.

wetone January 11, 2023 (10:50 am)

Simply amazing how city and parks see nothing wrong with their spending habits these days. Wasn’t the cost well over $600k before finished ? and still not working correctly….. See this all over city these days, looks and being one off design matters over functionality. Time to tighten the drawstrings….

WSB January 11, 2023 (11:02 am)

They are open again as of this morning – Parks told us this, we went over to confirm.

Common sense January 16, 2023 (3:29 pm)

Seattle is incompetent and proud of it. One day the decades of irresponsible spending, greedy public unions and incompetent leaders will catch up to Seattle. Downtown is already a ghost town with more companies leaving every day. The bikes and speed bumps have ruined the city for business. Seattle can’t even build a bathroom. Hard economic times are coming to Seattle. Be prepared for real estate to dump and crime to jump. Bellevue looks better every day!

Sorry, comment time is over.