King County Superior Court has ruled that a notorious Rainier Beach drug house will be shuttered for one year, and that the current owners – Sharon L. Stone and John Bliss – must vacate the property by June 24 at 8 am, or face eviction:
The property shall be immediately closed, prohibiting its use for any purpose for a period of (1) one year. While the abatement order is in effect, the property shall remain in the custody and control of the Court. Defendants shall completely vacate, close, and board the property at 8433 55th Avenue South Seattle, Washington by 8 am on June 24, 2011, and thereafter said residence it to be immediately sealed, closed, and posted according to Department of Planning and Development (DPD) standards for vacant buildings. More.
The City of Seattle filed suit in March, saying the home had been the subject of at least 83 calls to 911 during the preceding 18 months, including excessive foot traffic, prostitution, vehicle prowls, burglaries, assaults, noise, and other crimes that occurred at all hours.
One month later, a police raid turned up cash and crack cocaine.
Neighbors in the tight-knit Pritchard Beach community – 120 of whom wrote a letter to the City Attorney begging for relief – are thrilled.
“We can’t wait to walk our kids to Pritchard Beach Park, for the constant stream of drug buyers and ‘Johns’ to end, to be a normal neighborhood again,” said block watch captain Neale Frothingham. “One person won’t be allowed to hold this neighborhood and community back.”
He said that the house was abated for one year back in 1992, but the community and the City quit before the job was finished.
“We are optimistic that City officials share our resolve, and that one home owner, or her heirs, won’t be allowed to go back to business as usual on June 25, 2012 when the one-year abatement is up, and detract from the quality of life of the entire Rainier Valley by sucking badly needed police and other resources away from the broader community.”
He added that the experience has brought the community closer together.
“This has taught us that everything is possible when we work together. Our best days are ahead. We are united as never before. We look forward to channeling our energy in a positive direction. Rainier Beach and the Rainier Valley are on the ascent.”
King County Superior Court has determined that the property located at 8433 55th Avenue South in Rainier Beach is a “drug nuisance” property and must be shuttered for one year. Photo/do communications
Related:
- Raid Reveals Crack (5/30/11)
- Block Watch Captain: 120 Neighbors Asked City Attorney for Help With Rainier Valley “Drug Nuisance House” (3/24/11)
- City Moves to Shutter Rainier Beach ‘Drug Nuisance’ House (3/20/11)
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 7 comments }
Sadly, I’ve had 3 accounts with these losers at sharons house. First, a lady prostituted herself at the passenger side of a car window in front of my family as we walked by. She was so cracked out, she didn’t see us and the guy in his car had to tell her to be quiet as we walked by. Second- same lady having sex in the front seat of a truck with a different guy in front of the house in broad daylight. Third- same lady, different guy stumbled out of the house walking toward us until he had to pee on the telephone pole in front of him. All three times, we were in front of them. In plain sight. No regards for neighbors, public policy, public decency, or public sobriety. I know our encounters are minor compared to others – but they paint a picture the media rarely shows.
We are thanking the block watch peoples in the entire Seattle area.
It looks like it could be a cute house.
Now that it is empty it would be a good time to burn it down.
What happens when the year is up?
@CBO, I like your style.
I can just see the neighborhood dancing around bumping the Talking Heads “Burning down the house”
A little bear pepper spray around a front door or a car window does wonders for keeping crack heads away.
Comments on this entry are closed.