Here’s why King County is having a hearing about selling a West Seattle beach house

| Fauntleroy | West Seattle news

(Photo from kingcounty.gov)

A beachfront house just north of Cove Park has long been planned to be the construction office for the Fauntleroy ferry-dock rebuild. But first, the county – which has owned it since its own project in the area – is selling it to the state, and has to have a public hearing about that. Here’s the announcement sent to us this afternoon:

The Metropolitan King County Council will hold a hearing on July 14 at 1:30 pm to gather public comment on a proposed Ordinance that would allow King County to sell a parcel of land to the Washington State Department of Transportation.

The property is located at 8923 Fauntleroy Way SW, in the City of Seattle, parcel number 3524039112.

Copies of the proposed Ordinance are available upon request from the Clerk of the King County Council, Room 1200, King County Courthouse, 516 Third Ave., Seattle, WA 98104, or by calling 206-296-1020. The ordinance is also available online at www.kingcounty.gov/council/clerk.aspx by searching for proposed ordinance number 2026-0128.

A public hearing on the proposal to transfer will be held before the full Council at the King County Courthouse, Room 1001, on July 14 at 1:30 pm.

The purchase agreement is part of the legislation; it says the state will buy the house for $1.8 million.

Vests and Lights July 1, 2026 (5:16 pm)

Can I have it when they’re done?

Curious George July 1, 2026 (9:27 pm)

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Seems like a low price for a beach front house and lot? Like to hear from a real estate person on those????
- The King July 2, 2026 (4:42 am)
  
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  I’m not a realtor but went to realtor.com and checked about 30 recent sales. There was one turnkey at $1.8, the others on the waterfront were generally around $1.3 and lower. Prices are dropping. Anecdotally my area has dropped upwards of 25-30%. Listings in the Seattle area for May-June were almost double the average from a normal 4600 to 8300.
- k July 2, 2026 (7:09 am)
  
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  I think a house owned and maintained by the county is unlikely to have had regular maintenance or any improvements or upgrades, so I would expect the price to be at the lower end of the range. They’re also basically just selling the land. The house is incidental.

WS Person July 1, 2026 (8:01 pm)

$1.8M for low bank/beach waterfront in West Seattle…. Yeah right.

bolo July 1, 2026 (10:49 pm)

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Next to/downwind from a v. busy ferry dock?

rlh July 2, 2026 (6:42 am)

Why are commenters talking about the price?? It’s King County selling to the DOT. It’s not going to be the same as purchasing for private residential use.

WinWin July 2, 2026 (9:16 am)

This would be a perfect opportunity to expand our public parks and the footprint of this gem of a beach, Cove Park…and at a bargain price and a simple process. (When does such a thing ever happen in our “Seattle Process”? ;-)And the public beach area – and at least some of the long grass area adjacent – could be made available immediately without affecting the use of the house for the later construction purposes.

Fauntleroy Fairies July 2, 2026 (12:14 pm)

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We attended a meeting about that property with the seattle parks dept years ago when the county was interested to trade the property to the city in exchange for an easement associated with their upgraded stormwater system— we were supportive of extending cove park back then — but there was an outpouring of neighbors from the fauntleroy community council that was opposed. They wanted the home to be rented out as housing… which is what ended up happening. Was very disappointed in my neighbors— they missed an opportunity. BUT maybe WSDOT can help something like that happen when the construction is complete— I believe WSDOT wants to be good neighbors.

1994 July 2, 2026 (10:31 pm)

I was thinking the county should rent the property to the state. Then I wondered if the county didn’t want to hassle with all of the city’s tenant laws.