King County works out deal to bring business, jobs to vacant South Park landfill property

2005 Archived News

King County Executive Ron Sims today announced the signing of agreement with an industrial land developer to transform the old South Park landfill site - vacant for nearly three decades - into a commercial property that will provide living-wage jobs in the community.

The county completed a "purchase and sale agreement" for the 19.4-acre South Park Custodial Landfill parcel with South Park Development, a subsidiary of SeaCon LLC. The property, one of the largest vacant parcels of industrial land left in the south Seattle area, is southwest of the Seattle Transfer and Recycling Center and adjacent to State Route 509.

"Throughout this process, our goals were to create and retain jobs in the South Park community, to develop an underutilized property and to foster development of private-public partnerships," Sims said. "Our agreement with South Park Development achieves all of these goals. The property is located in a prime industrial zone, and it is important we get the best value for the people of South Park and the citizens of King County."

King County's Solid Waste Division began marketing the property when a site investigation concluded in 1999 that the property could support industrial development.

Sims had emphasized the need for both a high quality developer and redevelopment of the property by pushing for a number of criteria in the developer selection process. A Citizen's Advisory Committee also helped define what the development goals should be for the property, including:

• Providing living wage jobs,
• Complying with all regulatory requirements,
• Demonstrating an ability to protect and enhance the environment, and
• Creating an open and spacious environment, with sidewalks for pedestrian access, buffers and other specific criteria.

"This agreement benefits the county, the purchaser and the South Park community by transforming a vacant property into a job generator," said County Council Member Dow Constantine, whose district includes the South Park community. "The developer selection process we drafted with the aid of community members should ensure that this new facility will be a good neighbor," he said.

"This site long served the community for waste disposal, now it is time for it to help revitalize the area by producing jobs and incomes for citizens," added County Councilmember Larry Gossett.

King County has scheduled a public meeting for Nov. 30 at the South Park Community Center to introduce the developer to the community, and to recognize the South Park Citizens Advisory Committee for their many years of service in guiding the development project.

King County staff will be on hand at the meeting to discuss the history of the project and potential future activities. The meeting is set for 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the community center, 8319 8th Ave. So., Seattle.

The redevelopment of this site is an example of Executive Sims' SmartGrowth initiative to concentrate growth in urban infill areas and to use existing infrastructure more efficiently.