Recent History (2000-Present)

Current yəhaw̓ site during Fall 2023. (Image courtesy of yəhaw̓)

(Notes related to the Rainier Valley and 98118 zip code are in bold and italics.)

In 2006, construction began on Sound Transit’s Link Light Rail station at Rainier Beach. Service began in 2009, both at that station and at Columbia City and Othello Station. The route mirrored that of past Indian trails and early streetcars. A few years later, plans and reports related to a housing development at 9666 51st Ave started to be filed with the City of Seattle.

  • October 18, 2010: A 43-page “Critical Areas Study” document was prepared by Habitat Technologies, to document potential drainage corridors, wildlife species, and critical habitats either on the project area or around it. The document was initially created for the purpose of development of the site into two independent parcels, but such development was never undertaken.

  • July 18, 2014: A request is made for a site visit by Mark Travers Architects, ostensibly at the request of the owner, related to a "short subdivision of a combined parcel." It may be the beginnings of the record “3018093-LU,” saved through the City of Seattle’s Permit and Property Records Database, and might be the first inklings of trying to build developments on the site.

  • April 4, 2016: Master Use Permit is applied for by Mark Travers Architects, approved for a “Single Family Dwelling Unit.”

  • November 3, 2015: A 5-page arborist report prepared by Robert W. Williams and Associates Consulting Arborists described the site as “vacated, with remnants of old buildings and landscape features” long neglected.

  • November 26, 2016: A 9-page arborist report prepared a year later by the same company showed some slightly different results because they were making some corrections to the previous survey. They noted that there was evidence there used to be a nursery on site, and many of the abandoned plants had since integrated into the landscape. As a result there was an unusual blend of native and non-native tree species, although many were in poor condition.

  • January 16, 2018: A 133-page drainage report was prepared by Litchfield Engineering, for the purposes of “on-site and off-site infrastructure to support the future construction of nine single-family residencies.”

    • The report says the “project site is presently undeveloped.” Its western part had “overgrown grass areas with few shrubs and trees,” though it is relatively flat with a 1% slope; its eastern part had “a large canopy of trees and is heavily vegetated,” with all site runoff flowing towards the creek.

Group site cleanup during Summer 2023. (Image courtesy of yəhaw̓)

(For details on all five bullet points below, related to public comment, please see section under “Watershed” about the “Public Comment” between 2019 and 2022 for more in-depth information.)

  • October 2019 - December 2019: Dozens of citizens wrote in to the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections’ Public Resource Center (PRC), or prc@seattle.gov, at the City of Seattle to request a public meeting about “Project 3018093 at 9666 51st Ave S,” which is related to the current yəhaw̓ site. Over fifty requests to discuss concerns around potential environmental impacts had to be sent in before public comment was considered.

  • November 26, 2019: A 21-page arborist report prepared by Layton Tree Consulting says that the trees on-site are mostly in poor condition and overtaken by invasive species such as English ivy.

  • May 14, 2020: The Muckleshoot Tribe offers public comment regarding the potential for fish habitat in Mapes Creek. They call for studies to be re-conducted.

  • July 1, 2020: Seattle Urban Forestry Commission heard public comment regarding development on the property.

  • July 2020 - October 2020: Public comments continue, from many people who support the Muckleshoot Tribe’s testimonies regarding Mapes Creek and potential fish habitats.

  • November 20, 2020: Another public meeting was held. Concerns listed by community members, as noted by the Seattle Department of Constructions & Inspections, were a hefty number of concerns.

  • December 16, 2021: Regardless of the influx of public comment, the city continued to approve plans and permits to build 9 units of housing.

  • April 21, 2022: Parcels listed for sale by owner.

December 27, 2022: yəhaw̓ purchased the land!

Soil sampling workshop with Dr. Melanie Malone on yəhaw̓ site during July 2023. (Image courtesy of yəhaw̓)

Soil sampling workshop with Dr. Melanie Malone on yəhaw̓ site during July 2023. (Image courtesy of yəhaw̓)

  1. Tate, C. (2012b, August 13). Southeast Seattle ZIP code 98118: Neighborhood of nations. Southeast Seattle ZIP Code 98118: Neighborhood of Nations. https://www.historylink.org/File/10164

  2. Bureau of Land Management records. (1870)

  3. Rochester, J. (2001, June 9). Seattle neighborhoods: Laurelhurst -- thumbnail history. Seattle Neighborhoods: Laurelhurst -- Thumbnail History. https://www.historylink.org/File/3345

  4. Wilma, D. (2001, March 13). Rainier Valley -- thumbnail history. Rainier Valley -- Thumbnail History. https://www.historylink.org/File/3092

  5. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Grantor record. (1876)

  6. Vermont Historical Society. (n.d.). Thomas H. Canfield (1822-1897) papers, 1842-1932 doc 6 doc 7, 8, 163 ... https://vermonthistory.org/documents/findaid/canfield.pdf

  7. Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, September 30). Northern Pacific Railway. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Pacific_Railway

  8. Thomas Hawley Canfield Sr. (1822-1897) - find a... Find a Grave. (n.d.). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/69207929/thomas-hawley-canfield

  9. Tobin, C. (2004, May). North Rainier Valley Historic Context Statement. https://www.seattle.gov/Documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/HistoricResourcesSurvey/context-north-rainier.pdf

  10. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Residential property records. (1890)

  11. Blanchard, L. (1968). The street railway era in Seattle; a chronicle of six decades. H.E. Cox.

  12. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Grantor record. (1899)

  13. The Millionaire’s Row. The moore mansion. (n.d.). https://www.millionairesrow.net/81114thE.html

  14. Givens, L. H. (2017, November 3). James A. Moore is authorized to build a canal in Seattle connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington. James A. Moore is authorized to build a canal in Seattle connecting Puget Sound to Lake Washington by a bill signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt on June 11, 1906. https://www.historylink.org/File/20465

  15. Flynn, G. (n.d.). Biography of Edward Francis Sweeney (1860 -1923). Brewer. https://www.brewerygems.com/sweeney.htm

  16. Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State. (n.d.). Civil War veterans buried in Washington state - Jerome Butts. Jerome Butts - Civil War Veterans Buried In Washington State. https://www.civilwarvetswastate.com/veterans/detail.html?veteranid=2106

  17. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Grantor record. (1899)

  18. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Grantee record. (1900)

  19. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Tax roll. (1905)

  20. Puget Sound Regional Archives. Tax rolls. (1910)