CITY OF SEATTLE
RESOLUTION __________________
title
A RESOLUTION declaring the premises located at 213 South Main Street, Seattle, Washington, commonly known as the Old Cannery Building, to be a neighborhood blight requiring acquisition by the City of Seattle in accordance with RCW 35.80A.010.
body
WHEREAS, RCW 35.80A.010 authorizes a city to condemn property that "constitutes a blight on the surrounding neighborhood"; and
WHEREAS, RCW 35.80A.010 provides that property is a "blight on the surrounding neighborhood" if any two of the following factors exist: (1) a structure exists on the property that has not been lawfully occupied for a period of one year or more; (2) City executive authority determines that the property constitutes a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare; or (3) the structure has been associated with illegal drug activity during the previous 12 months; and
WHEREAS, the City conducted a blight assessment of a property located at 213 South Main Street, Old Cannery Building: Determination of Blight Report Under Chapter 35.80A RCW; and
WHEREAS, that assessment includes letters from the Fire Chief and Chief of Police related to the condition of the property; and
WHEREAS, the letter from Harold D. Scoggins, Fire Chief, dated June 5, 2019, confirms that the Seattle Fire Department has identified the Old Cannery Building as a derelict building that has been vacant for over two decades, and is in a condition of disrepair that is unsafe for fire department staff to enter in the event of fire or other emergencies; and
WHEREAS, the letter from Carmen Best, Chief of Police, dated June 7, 2019, confirms that the building presents a safety risk to the public and first responders due to the physical condition of the building; and that Seattle Police Department Officers are unable to enter the building in the event of an emergency or in response to criminal activity; and
WHEREAS, the letter from Carmen Best, Chief of Police, dated June 7, 2019, also confirms that the Old Cannery Building is at the center of and associated with concentrated criminal activity in the area; and
WHEREAS, the letters from Chief Scoggins and Chief Best confirm that the property presents a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare; and
WHEREAS, the condemnation of the property is necessary to eliminate the neighborhood blight and is for a public purpose; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Seattle makes the following findings and declarations:
A. The property located at 213 South Main Street (“Property”), Seattle, Washington, commonly known as the Old Cannery Building, constitutes a "blight on the surrounding neighborhood" as that phrase is defined in RCW 35.80A.010;
B. As identified in the Old Cannery Building: Determination of Blight Report Under Chapter 35.80A RCW, Attachment A to this resolution, the Property has not been lawfully occupied since 1989 and meets at least one other factor for a declaration of blight;
C. Deputy Mayor Moseley, designee of the executive authority of the City, has identified the Property as a threat to public health, safety, or welfare due to the safety and security concerns that the conditions of the property raise for neighboring owners, residents, and first responders, Attachment B to this resolution.
D. For those reasons, and pursuant to the authority provided in RCW 35.80A.010, the City Council declares that the acquisition of the real property described above is necessary to eliminate neighborhood blight.
Section 2. Notwithstanding the findings and declarations in Section 1 of this resolution, the City does not intend to proceed with acquisition, if the owner of the Property is diligently proceeding with actions to redevelop the Property to address blighted conditions.
Adopted by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2019, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
President ____________ of the City Council
The Mayor concurred the ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2019.
____________________________________
Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment A - Old Cannery Building: Determination of Blight Report Under Chapter 35.80A RCW, June 2019
Attachment B - Blight Identification Letter, Deputy Mayor Moseley, September 3, 2019