Proposed homeless camp site map includes residential possibilities

Though it’s too soon to know if Seattle’s first two city-sanctioned homeless encampments will be a success, a third site might be on its way.

And this time, the city is looking into placing encampments in residential areas.

The Department of Planning and Development released a map illustrating approximately 1,500 potential sites that dot all the way across the city. Of those, only 46 are on city-owned property, with about 280 being non-city, publicly-owned sites, and 1,180 on private, vacant properties. The plan calls to add an additional 390 non-city, publicly-owned, non-residential zones to the potential site list.

Related: If order is maintained, Seattle’s new homeless camps won’t damage property value

The current city ordinance only allows for encampments in industrial zones, but according to KING 5, the DPD’s new study is in response to the city council’s call to review sites for homeless in residential neighborhoods.

KING 5 reports the map includes residential listings such as near homes off Aurora and N. 80th Street and near Carkeek Park.

Mayor Ed Murray wrote a letter to the council last week that said he opposes the idea expanding encampments beyond the current zones, as those are the ones that offer “the best access to services and transit for the homeless.”

“I do not intend to introduce new legislation,” he wrote. “Instead, I will remain focused on addressing our efforts to find permanent solutions to homelessness through the new $5 million investment authorized by Council earlier this month, plus the additional $2.3 million investment expected to be authorized by Council in the 2016 Adopted Budget.”

KING 5 reports that city staff are currently evaluating the new sites established in Ballard and Interbay before working on permitting for a third city-sanctioned site.