Homeless camp now on state property

Nickelsville, the homeless camp now in South Park, has been given written notice that it's trespassing on state land. But that doesn't mean the campers will be forced off the property any time soon, a spokesman for Gov. Chris Gregoire says.

"We are not going to take the position of immediately moving them out," Ron Judd, Gregoire's senior adviser, said Tuesday. "We're going to see if there is a way to work toward a long-term resolution."

He said the trespassing notice was given to meet a legal obligation and there was no specific deadline to vacate, as is typical with those notices.

Judd met with residents of the homeless encampment on state Department of Transportation land, as well as advocates for the homeless and the Church Council of Greater Seattle to see if there is someplace the campers can move where they can stay long-term.

Last September they moved onto city of Seattle-owned land only about 100 yards from their current site at Highland Way Southwest and Second Avenue Southwest. Many of the original campers were arrested. Afterward the group ended up camping in church parking lots for most of the year.

Until Saturday, the camp was at the Bryn Mawr United Methodist Church in Renton, where it had been allowed to stay for 90 days.

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