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Too many buildings in Seattle pose an immediate danger to the public. They are abandoned. Fires have been set inside many — some multiple times. Yet they remain accessible to curious children playing and homeless people seeking shelter.
Under Mayor Bruce Harrell’s proposed ordinance, the city would be able to speed up actions needed to hold property owners accountable for these nuisances while also remedying the public danger. The City Council should pass the ordinance that would lead to the repair or demolition of such structures.
Currently, buildings that are unsafe that get the city’s attention are put on a list that could take years to rectify. The fire department tries to work with owners to have them voluntarily secure and bring their building up to Seattle’s housing and building code or demolish it.
The City’s Vacant Building Monitoring Program provides inspection and enforcement actions, including requiring property owners to secure their vacant property to prevent trespassing and restore it to a safe condition.
Fire officials said there were 91 derelict building fires in 2022 and 130 last year. Three people died in such fires last year. Fire Chief Harold Scoggins said some fires are set by unsheltered people trying to stay warm.
“If we can prevent the next fire, that’s what we should be trying to do,” Scoggins told the council’s Public Safety Committee.
The chief already has the authority to take actions against unsafe structures, but the ordinance amends the fire code to clarify that such actions could mean the demolition of properties where the owner is nonresponsive or uncooperative with the city. It also allows the city to pass the cost of demolition back to the owner.
The ordinance isn’t a mechanism to remove mere eyesores, but a way to remove buildings that are open and unsafe. Property owners would receive a letter from the fire chief declaring that the property is unsafe and requires immediate attention. The letter will list the specific actions required to make the property safe. Owners would be given time to comply based on the needs of the property.
Many such buildings are located in lower-income neighborhoods, which, aside from the safety concern, further depresses property values.
The ordinance won’t remove all dangerous buildings immediately, but it would accelerate the process, serve as a warning to owners that unsecured dangerous buildings won’t be tolerated, and free up fire department resources.
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