The Alki Community Council (ACC) has delivered a formal set of recommendations to the Seattle Mayor’s Office and Seattle City Council, backed by new survey data revealing deep local concerns regarding public safety, traffic violence, and the loss of community spaces.

The move comes after the council conducted the 2026 Alki Neighborhood Priorities Survey between January 12 and 17, 2026, which collected directional feedback from 173 respondents to inform City decision-making.

Survey Reveals Safety and Livability Crisis

According to the survey results, while residents still deeply value Alki’s natural beauty and waterfront (91.9%), their daily experience is increasingly defined by anxiety over safety in public spaces (76.3%) and dangerous driving behavior (72.8%). A significant 41% of respondents reported feeling "somewhat unsafe" in the neighborhood.

Specific quality-of-life issues cited by the community include:

• Noise Ordinances: 75.7% of respondents expressed concern over loud vehicles violating noise laws.

• Violent Crime: 61.3% cited gunfire or violent incidents as a major concern.

• Property Crime: Nearly half (49.7%) are worried about smash-and-grab robberies affecting local businesses.

• Sanitation: Residents reported high levels of frustration with public urination and overflowing garbage due to limited seasonal restroom access and maintenance.

One resident summarized the sentiment in the written comments, stating, "The beach and surrounding streets no longer feel safe or accessible at certain times. Encampments, garbage, and open drug use make it difficult to enjoy public spaces".

A Neighborhood Without a Center

A primary focus of the survey was the "prolonged absence" of affordable, public community space. The former Alki Community Center has been repurposed for childcare use, and the Alki Bathhouse is often described as costly and inaccessible for regular neighborhood programming.

The survey found that 64.7% of respondents are "very concerned" about this lack of space, with over 75% requesting a dedicated indoor community center to serve families, youth, and seniors.

The 2026 "Executive Accountability View"

In response to these findings, the ACC has submitted an Executive Accountability View to the Mayor’s Office, outlining specific outcomes with 90-day checkpoints to ensure progress. The council describes these recommendations as "low-cost, high-impact steps" that can be initiated immediately.

Key recommendations include:

• Public Safety Visibility: The Seattle Police Department (SPD) and Park Rangers are expected to finalize coverage schedules to ensure a visible presence during peak seasons.

• Pedestrian Safety: The Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is tasked with installing speed-control measures and safety treatments along "restaurant row".

• Sanitation & Health: The City must deploy seasonal restrooms and increase the frequency of garbage pickups to address public health concerns.

• Community Space Restoration: The Department of Neighborhoods and Parks and Recreation are asked to identify interim community space options and establish a planning timeline for a permanent solution.

• Historical Protection: A defined stabilization and access plan is requested for the historic Alki Bathhouse.

Next Steps

The Alki Community Council has called for the neighborhood to be integrated more effectively into the City’s tourism and economic development planning, particularly through the Office of Economic Development and Visit Seattle.

By setting a 90-day checkpoint for these items, the ACC aims to prepare the neighborhood for the upcoming peak summer use and the "global visibility" of the city in 2026. The council emphasizes that these actions are essential to restoring the livable residential environment that 63.6% of residents say is a core value of the Alki community