New parking restrictions on 16th SW? South Seattle College to host community discussion

| Puget Ridge | West Seattle news

(WSB photo, 2022)

Some of the longtime RV-encampment areas along West Seattle streets have been addressed with added parking restrictions – Harbor Avenue SW and SW Trenton, for example – and 16th SW alongside South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) might be next. The college has just announced a community meeting, and though the announcement doesn’t specifically mention RVs, it does mention the city’s Unified Care Team, which works solely on encampments:

South Seattle College is hosting a community meeting for members of the campus community and neighbors of the college in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle on the evening of Wednesday, February 4.

The City of Seattle contacted South Seattle College about the possibility of installing parking restrictions along a portion of 16th Ave SW in front of the college to address long-term vehicle parking.

This meeting will be an opportunity to hear from Seattle Department of Transportation staff and the Unified Care Team about the work they do and possible solutions for our area. We will then shift to a community conversation where folks can ask questions, share their experiences, and provide feedback to the city and college about preferred solutions.

Date: Wednesday, February 4, 2026
Time: 5:30 pm to 7 pm
Location: Cascade Hall, Room 107
South Seattle College Main Campus
6000 16th Ave SW

Cascade Hall is listed as “CAH” on the campus map. Parking in the North Parking Lot will be free, and closest to the building.

spooled January 26, 2026 (6:41 pm)

This is the BEST news I’ve heard all year and LONG overdue. 16th has suffered for years since the day the notorious Andover RV camp was swept.

Jake January 27, 2026 (2:36 pm)

Reply

and now you just push the problem to another neighborhood.
Derek January 27, 2026 (5:08 pm)

Reply

It’s a meeting, not a sweep

mem January 26, 2026 (8:42 pm)

Agreed!

16th resident January 27, 2026 (7:49 am)

I’m finding out about this meeting here. Is there any effort to inform those of us who live on 16th so other neighbors can attend? What about informing the folks who live in the RVs?

snowskier January 27, 2026 (8:44 am)

Solid news. No need to overthink this one. The college, the students and the neighborhood deserve an end to this craziness. Enact the restrictions and implement the solution quickly, you already have a playbook from Harbor Ave.

Erik January 27, 2026 (9:12 am)

At this point it feels like we just need to create a “no RV parking” designation and post them along these streets. Would be more efficient than trying to play whack a mole with the RV encampments.

Kyle January 27, 2026 (12:29 pm)

Reply

Agreed.
anonyme January 27, 2026 (3:03 pm)

Reply

Erik, this is way too sensible an idea to ever be considered in this city. Or make RV street parking illegal unless a special permit is purchased, and then for a very limited time only.
- DC January 28, 2026 (9:31 am)
  
  Reply
  
  This is an interesting concept, but I think it only works if we expand it to all cars. We should do what Japan does and require ALL car owners to have permits proving they have space to park. No free parking on public land. This would also free up lots of space for bus-only lanes and protected bike lanes.

homeowner on 16th January 27, 2026 (12:56 pm)

This is awesome news!

SSC Faculty January 27, 2026 (1:44 pm)

My hope is that the restrictions wouldn’t make it impossible for students, staff, and faculty at South unable to park for a day’s work/studying. I understand the desire for no long-term parking, but hopefully this is at least 8 hours.

Foop January 27, 2026 (1:52 pm)

I don’t love weaponizing parking to take away from certain people, I’m all for removing parking altogether and providing a usable *protected* bike lane though.

Jake January 27, 2026 (2:36 pm)

Another hostile anti homeless measure. Ridiculous how we pretend to be anti-ICE then by the same breath want all addicts and non-addicted homeless to be banished from even parking a vehicle legally. People do not care about immigrant lives, only ones who contribute taxes and are not impoverished.

16th resident January 27, 2026 (2:55 pm)

Reply

You are welcome to invite them to your street!
- k January 28, 2026 (11:30 am)
  
  Reply
  
  I do have them on my street. Why are people so quick to assume they are the only ones who have ever seen an RV in their neighborhood? Plenty of people meet the folks who live in the RVs and feel differently than you. It’s not that complicated.
Another 16th resident January 27, 2026 (4:33 pm)

Reply

I agree with Jake here. And for what it’s worth, the folks currently parking on 16th seem pretty tame compared to other clusters of RVs that are more likely to be found in the industrial areas and green belts. I hope they are able to share their perspective at this community meeting just like the rest of us. I will also note- there are homeowners on our street who have business vehicles, including semi trucks, that are parked in rows and often do not move for a week or more. Parking restrictions will impact them as well.
- homeowner on 16th ave sw January 27, 2026 (5:13 pm)
  
  Reply
  
  This is not about how you feel. This is about public safety. It’s an arterial street shared by two bus routes, bicyclists, pedestrians, and cars. It’s called a “street,” not a “parking lot,” for a reason.
- Kyle January 27, 2026 (5:49 pm)
  
  Reply
  
  They aren’t parked legally though. Enforcement is just slower where there are no signs and they know this so they park in these locations. Honestly, these are the same RVs here for years, at least the past 3. They will not change their lifestyle, work towards permanent housing, etc. unless they are forced to.
Rhonda January 27, 2026 (11:19 pm)

Reply

Jake, most illegal immigrants are not homeless and most homeless are from families who have been in the USA for multiple generations.

16th homeowner January 27, 2026 (4:16 pm)

This is the best news since 2020!

George January 27, 2026 (4:19 pm)

This is GREAT news! This will enhance safety for residents, students, pedestrians, bicyclists, and commuters.

16th Ave neighbor February 4, 2026 (8:20 pm)

Thanks for the headsup on this meeting WSB!I attended as did probably 50+ neighbors. I believe the statements made by those there hopefully pressed upon the officials there (SDOT, Parking Enforcement and Care Team) the urgency and public safety issue this encampment presents, not to mention the longterm success of SSC. They made no commitments but there is movement towards signs saying either 4 hour parking or No Overnight Parking as well as more enforcement. There is an effort to create an RV safe lot in South Seattle to direct people towards. It was a colorful civic discourse with those advocating for compassion and those advocating for immediate enforcement. Hopefully it leads to some meaningful outcomes for residents and better options for people living out of their vehicles.

WSB February 4, 2026 (9:59 pm)

Reply

I was there and will have the full story tomorrow (mostly many more words saying what your comment said – I even had the same crowd count); but first tonight posting a small breakout since it was the first public acknowledgment of the RV safe lot (with tiny houses) plan since we broke that story two weeks ago. – TR