Port of Seattle wants Nickelsville out of new park home

An American flag was set in a tree. The kitchen tent was up and so was a portable, makeshift toilet. Although residents of the homeless camp call the grassy park at Terminal 107 along the Duwamish Waterway their permanent home, its owner, the Port of Seattle, says not so fast.

"We're telling them we'll work with them, but we will be seeking an eviction. They are in the park illegally," said Peter McGraw, spokesman for the real-estate and seaport division.

Thursday night, the encampment known as Nickelsville set up on property along West Marginal Way. It creates yet another battle between the 40 to 80 residents — who say the area is their dream camp — and a government agency, this time the Port.

The Port was not expecting the move.

"We thought they'd go to another church," McGraw said. The Port and the residents had negotiated unsuccessfully a few weeks ago, and the Port thought the land was no longer under consideration. But faced with eviction from state Department of Transportation land where they'd been living since June 6, the camp's residents had to move late Thursday.

A prepared statement from the Port released Friday dampened residents' dreams of a permanent camp at the site.

"It is illegal for the Port of Seattle to provide this property for the encampment, and we will not disobey the law," the statement said, also noting that the area is a shoreline habitat with sensitive vegetation, falling under the city's shoreline codes.

The Port had told residents this in the past, but the information went ignored, the statement said. The Port will immediately begin legal action to remove the residents, which officials expect will take a week.

Nickelsville formed last September and has set up in a number of church parking lots for up to three months at a time, but this time there were no more invitations, residents said.

Friday morning the residents were unloading vans, erecting tents, pouring coffee and beginning to set out breakfast in a grassy area lined with wild sweet peas and willows.

"This is our permanent home," said Peggy Notes, Nickelsville resident and spokeswoman since its inception.

"This place is perfect," said William Lester. "I love it." He credits Nickelsville for making it possible for him to kick a heroin habit and stay drug free for nearly a year. "It gave me a place to lay my head, where I have friends."

Home may be a tent by a roaring highway, but if you're safe, he said, "that means a lot."

Nancy Bartley: 206-464-8522 or nbartley@seattletimes.com