As West Seattle neighbors voice mounting concerns over the $3.3 million Glassyard Commons RV safe lot and tiny home village at the bend where 2nd Ave SW meets W Marginal Way S. The physical address is 7200 West Marginal Way S. in southeast West Seattle/South Park. The site is 3.9‑acres and is currently owned by WSDOT.

Councilmember Rob Saka is proposing legislative changes aimed at securing the areas surrounding new homeless services. The Highland Park project has faced significant pushback from residents and business owners who fear the development will exacerbate crime and lead to further unregulated encampments.

During community meetings held in early March, more than 100 neighbors expressed skepticism regarding the Low Income Housing Institute’s (LIHI) authority to manage "spillover" effects outside the facility’s fences. These concerns are rooted in existing challenges near the West Duwamish Greenbelt, where residents have reported fires, drug use, and the destruction of natural habitats near Myers Way and Roxbury Street. There is currently an intensifying demand for the city to fund proactive enforcement of laws regarding illegal parking and dumping in these sensitive green spaces.

In direct response to these types of community concerns, Councilmember Rob Saka has introduced potential amendments to Council Bill 121185 and said:

“I strongly support expanding shelter options, but we have a responsibility to make sure they are well-integrated and that surrounding neighborhoods are kept safe and clean from day one. Public safety cannot be an afterthought. That’s why I’m proposing an amendment that would require the City to put a real public safety and neighborhood mitigation plan in place before a new shelter opens.”

Saka’s proposed Amendment 6 would require the Executive to develop and implement a public safety plan for the area surrounding any new shelter to ensure the neighborhood remains safe, clean, and free of unsanctioned encampments. Additionally, Amendment 7 seeks to address local displacement by requiring that at least one-third of newly created shelter units be reserved for people experiencing homelessness in the specific neighborhood where the shelter is located.

These proposals come as the city struggles to balance the implementation of the managed camp model with the safety of the surrounding residential and business communities.

Who the site is intended to serve

• Primary population: People living in unsafe, aging, or dilapidated RVs with no other housing options.

• Priority group: RV residents already living in Seattle City Council District 1 (West Seattle, South Park, SODO, Georgetown, Pioneer Square).

• LIHI and Councilmember Rob Saka have emphasized that District 1 residents should be offered spaces first.

Total occupancy capacity

The site is designed for two distinct housing types:

• 72 RV parking spaces

• 20 tiny houses

This makes Glassyard Commons one of the largest combined RV safe‑lot + tiny‑house village models in Seattle.

Intake & occupancy process

Every resident goes through a structured, multi‑step process:

1. Referral & outreach

   • Outreach is led by the UHeights Vehicle Resident Outreach (VRO) team, focusing on District 1 RV residents.

2. Initial intake with a case manager

   • Residents review the code of conduct, safety expectations, and site rules.

   • Case managers begin building an individualized service plan.

3. Ongoing case management Case managers help residents secure:

   • Identification

   • Income support / SNAP

   • Employment resources

   • Healthcare and behavioral health services

   • Long‑term housing options

4. Transition planning

   • The goal is to move residents from RVs → tiny homes → permanent housing.

   • LIHI works with residents to sign over unsafe RVs for demolition once they are housed.

Security & onsite staffing

• 24/7 security presence

• Onsite Shelter Operations Manager

• Continuous staff monitoring, cameras, and controlled entry

LIHI notes that similar villages historically reduce crime in surrounding areas due to constant staffing and oversight.

Potential Amendments to CB 121185 from Councilmember Saka

Potential Amendments suggested by other Councilmembers