Preliminary work got underway Sept. 14 for the required demolition of six of the 21 buildings in the Lora Lake Apartment complex in Burien.

Port of Seattle officials noted that these units are located within the Runway Protection Zone of the third runway, which the Federal Aviation Administration requires to be free of all structures.

The port operates Sea-Tac International Airport.

Port officials said demolition is expected to take two to three weeks.

They added that 15 Lora Lake apartment buildings located outside of the protection zone will not be affected by the demolition.

This work does not conflict with the King County Superior Court preliminary injunction of Aug. 10 that temporarily prohibits demolition of the apartments outside that zone.

The remaining 162 units have been at the center of a regional controversy for much of this year.

The port, which owns the property, and the city of Burien, where the housing complex is located, want to demolish the other 15 buildings to clear the way for commercial development.

But the King County Housing Authority, which has managed the now-vacated Lora Lake Apartments, wants to save them for use as affordable housing.

The matter is scheduled for trial early next year.