Seattle announces plans to pay for -- or seize -- a once-public beach from homeowners

SEATTLE -- After a months-long battle over a piece of waterfront property in
Seattle’s Cedar Park neighborhood, the city is stepping in to take over ownership of the beach.

Mayor Ed Murray announced plans on Thursday to move forward on acquisition of the Northeast 130th Street Beach.

This came after homeowners living adjacent to the beach filed suit to privatize the property and won. However, city leaders say privatizing property that has been available to the public for more than 80 years is a disservice to the community.

“So we really think this is a critical access, so what we’re going to do is and in the next couple of weeks we’re going to send the homeowners an offer; we’re conducting an appraisal and we’re giving them fair market value, and they have a choice to either accept it, not accept it or counter it,” said Seattle Parks and Recreation Superintendent Jesus Aguirre.

If the offer is declined, the mayor plans to send an ordinance to the City Council authorizing the use of eminent domain to take ownership of the beach.

Dave Pope, of the Friends of 130th Street Beach community group, said he is grateful the city has taken these measures.

Keith Holmquist, one of the homeowners, who is fighting to keep the property private, said the court has made it clear that city never owned the property despite it being accessible to the community for years.

He also questions whether city leaders are making the best use of tax dollars by taking measures to take back the beach. He believes exercising eminent domain could be setting a dangerous precedent.