Cameras, lights in Morgan Junction EV lot plan, now out to bid: Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting report #1

Updates on Seattle City Light‘s planned Morgan Junction eight-EV-charger lot were among several major topics highlighting Wednesday night’s quarterly meeting of the Morgan Community Association, which we’re breaking into separate reports this time rather than lumping them all into one lengthy account.

First, a timeline reminder: District 1 City Councilmember Rob Saka announced earlier this year that the charging lot fronting both Fauntleroy and Morgan just east of 42nd SW wouldn’t open before next spring, three years later than the original announcement. The new spring 2026 date is still the plan, MoCA heard last night:

Project manager Lizzy Kay, joining the meeting remotely, said her best guess is that construction will start in October; the project recently went out to bid. She brought information that MoCA and other community members had requested about the lighting plan for the site:

The lot’s four lighting poles will be half as high and dimmer than nearby streetlights, and they’ll be focused on a “targeted area.” Here’s a map showing where they’ll be:

Other security measures will include cameras, monitored by SCL security employees – in general, Kay said, “We are going to have more security at this site than others.” She didn’t know how many cameras, though (they weren’t part ot her planned presentation, but instead emerged as a topic in Q&A). Attendees asked what else would be done to deter vandalism and wire theft; she said the vendor ChargePoint had developed a “cut-protection technology” involving a “hardened cut-proof cable … hopefully impossible or at least harder to cut.” She also said the site would have an eight-foot Fiberglas fence; asked what would be done to deter/address tagging vandalism, she said it would be handled like other city facilities. (This is a point of particular concern, as you might recall that the site had vandalism trouble with temporary fencing that wasn’t addressed for months.)

Entry to the lot – a former substation – will only be from SW Morgan; Kay recapped why:

That led to a question about a previously revealed plan to trench across Fauntleroy Way during construction. Kay said that remained part of the plan but said it would be done “in sections” so there’s never a total closure of that busy arterial.

WHAT’S NEXT: Bids are due August 6; you can see the bidding documents for the project, which carries an “engineer’s estimate” cost of just under $800,000, by going here.

3 Replies to "Cameras, lights in Morgan Junction EV lot plan, now out to bid: Morgan Community Association quarterly meeting report #1"

  • North Admiral Cyclist July 17, 2025 (4:05 pm)

    Of course, topics like the security and lighting are important – especially to the general public.  But with EV charging being turned upside down with regard to the charging standards a year or two ago, it is very important to EV owners exactly what kind of EV charging will be offered.  That means what charging standard and what charging rate.  Most EV manufacturers selling EVs in the U.S. have announced converting their new cars to the “NCS” or North America Charging Standard (aka “Tesla”).   Interestingly, Seattle City’ Light’s project website (provided in the article above) does not specify if the new charging station will be equipped with the old J1772 chargers or the new NCS.  Hopefully someone at City Light knows, so EV drivers can be informed if the new charging station is useable by Teslas or newer EVs.  

  • John July 17, 2025 (6:40 pm)

    Not that it matters in regards to the charging lot or most things in the world but looking at the fourth graphic/picture, the overhead view of the lot, how is it even remotely legal for that car/minivan to be parked like that on the west side of the building? Does that occur all the time?

    • B July 18, 2025 (11:56 am)

      As a resident who lives a half dozen doors South of that intersection- it does happen every so often. Hasn’t usually been an issue, but it definitely juts out when it does.

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