Homeless camp moves to old fire station in Lake City | Public Spaces

Residents of the "Nickelsville" homeless camp today moved from a church in the U-District to the former Lake City Fire Station.

The city is allowing campers to stay in the building at NE 127th St. and 30th Ave. NE through the winter, for up to six months.

"With snow forecast for this weekend and warnings of a long winter ahead, we moved fast to get the tent city residents into a secure and warm spot," Deputy Mayor Darryl Smith said in a press release.

Crews vacated Fire Station 39 a few months ago, when a brand new station opened next door. The city is planning to eventually sell the property.

Mayor McGinn hopes to put a permanent homeless camp to hold 100 to 150 people in SODO, at the site of the former Sunny Jim peanut butter factory that burned down in September. Although the city was initially considering several sites, the mayor believes the property at Airport Way South and South Snoqualmie Street would be the best fit because it is larger than the other sites, flat, and close to a transit line.

If the Sunny Jim site is deemed viable, it most likely will not be ready until next spring.