Port of Seattle officials announced on Aug. 25 that the Nickelsville encampment must leave port property in West Seattle by Sept. 30, despite the homeless camp requests to stay.

According to a press release from the Port, a second notice of trespass will be posted at Terminal 107, 4700 West Marginal Way, this week. 

"While port commissioners considered requests for up to an additional 90 days, the Port has no authority to provide temporary housing, the shoreline park is an inappropriate location for the encampment, and the camp violates Seattle city code," according to the release. "Port officials reiterated their hope that encampment members and advocates will continue efforts to find an appropriate site for the group, and that they will leave port property voluntarily."

On Aug. 21, an encampment spokesperson said Speaker of the House Frank Chopp, Port Commissioners Gael Tarleton and Kurt Beckett, Michael Ramos, Director of the Church Council of Greater Seattle, Paul Benz of the Lutheran Public Policy Office, Cecile Hansen, Chairperson of the Duwamish tribe and four members for the camp met together last week at the Duwamish Longhouse to discuss options for Nickelsville.


Spokesperson Revel Smith said, "If allowed, the proposed agreement would allow Nickelsville to remain at the T-107 Park for an initial two months with a third month safety net. This would give parties who were at the table time to work together to find a permanent site for Nickelsville. The Port of Seattle and Nickelsville would seek a Temporary Use Permit from the City of Seattle for the three month stay at T-107 Park. Signals from the City are that a permit would likely be granted, and city police would comply."

But the port continues to maintain that the encampment, which moved onto Terminal 107 on July 23, is on port property illegally. Prior to its relocation to Terminal 107, the encampment was set up on state-owned property in South Park. It was forced to leave by the State Department of Transportation.


“The port has tried to provide a compassionate response to this situation while also balancing other obligations to the citizens of King County,” said Port Chief Executive Officer Tay Yoshitani in the release Tuesday. “We continue to believe that the port can best assist with the difficult problem of homelessness in our community by focusing on our mission to create jobs and economic growth for King County.”



The port lacks the authority to donate land, money, or services for housing purposes. The Port maintains the encampment’s presence also violates city land use and shoreline codes.



“Our community must use this time to maximize collective efforts to identify a better location for Nickelsville,” said Commissioner Gael Tarleton. “I will continue to assist legislators and community advocates in meeting this goal so that the public park can be returned to its intended use.”