THE FACTS AROUND THE DISPOSITION OF THE HOUSE AT

8923 Fauntleroy Way SW

When the Barton Pump Station construction began (2008), King County (KC) purchased
the 8923 Fauntleroy Way SW property for $950,000 to serve as its project office. KC
also leases the land under the Barton Street pump station (next to the ferry dock), from
the Seattle Dept. of Transportation (SDOT), for $85,000 a year.
To get out from under the lease, KC has offered to gift the property at 8923 to the City of
Seattle as park land. The Seattle Parks & Recreation Dept. (Parks) would like to increase
its stock of water frontage property. Parks has previously stated it is not interested in
acquiring new land unless it is adjacent to existing Park property, partly because it
doesnt have the resources to adequately maintain its current stock of parks.
Cove Park is a 75 feet wide public street end. It is not a City park and thus not part of
Park's jurisdiction/responsibility. The formation of Cove Park began in 1997 by the
Fauntleroy Community Association and some very dedicated members. Cove Park is
currently maintained by the community. As long ago as 1999, Parks has said they had no
interest in Cove Park.
In order for Parks to acquire the property at 8923 and Cove Park, KC must request that
SDOT vacate the Barton street end (Cove Park and the pump station property); then
Parks would ask the Seattle City Council to (1) acquire Cove Park, and (2) allow Parks to
take 8923 Fauntleroy Way SW in trade for the property KC currently leases for the
Barton Street pump station. This is a very complicated process of approvals among City
Departments and the City Council.
8923 is zoned as single family residence and has 35 feet of waterfront/tide rights. Adding
8923 together with Cove Park would increase the public beach from 75 feet to 110 feet.
Eliminating the house and garage at 8923 would open up the view of the Sound.
Parks has no plans, as of now, for how they would develop 8923 and Cove Park.
Turning Cove Park and 8923 into a single park and having it managed by Parks would
eliminate lease and property tax revenues that currently go to the city and add
maintenance costs to Parks. Reverting the 8923 property to private ownership would
mean 1) KC would continue to pay the City of Seattle $85,000/year and 2) provide
property taxes of approximately $10,000/year. Parks would not have any maintenance
costs for Cove Park.
There is no parking around 8923. Parking is an ongoing problem in the community/
neighborhood.