In 2014, a group of Seattle residents said, “Let’s keep city-owned green spaces in public hands for public benefit, not sell them for private development.” And they started SGSC.
SGSC has now helped preserve 40 acres of Seattle area forest, wetland, tree groves and open spaces. Help us add more!
Myers Parcels Win
When the City planned to sell the 33-acre Myers Parcels in West Seattle for warehouse development, SGSC sprang into action, helping rally thousands of people and dozens of organizations in 2015-16. We convinced Mayor Murray’s administration not to sell, and in July 2016, he committed to land bank this forest and wetland area for a future Seattle park. Now the Mayor needs to transfer Myers from FAS to the Seattle Parks Dept. Take Action
New Tree Ordinance & HALA Tree Protections
Ongoing Project - Take Action
Seattle’s Urban Forestry Commission laid out guidelines to update Seattle’s tree protection ordinance in 2009. The Mayor and City Council have yet to pass a new ordinance.. They also ignored tree protections in Seattle’s new HALA (Housing Affordability & Livability Agenda) plan. We need to pass a tree ordinance, and amend HALA, to protect trees, increase their abundance, and retain our title as “The Emerald City.”
$3 Billion In “Green”
Ongoing Project - Take Action
The water and green spaces in Seattle’s 142.5 square mile area provide $3 billion a year in benefits & savings — including public health & property value enhancement, recreation spaces, insect & animal habitat; carbon sink, erosion control, oxygen production, & more. SGSC is working with the city to treat that value as an asset on the city’s books, account for it and steward it for future generations.
Delridge Wetland Win
When Seattle City Light said it no longer needed its Delridge substation, SGSC worked with the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association to acquire the wetland area, and restore it into an environmental learning center for Southwest neighborhoods, and for Seattle Schools.
Historic Orchard Win
Visiting a Seattle surplus parking lot property at 6th & Yesler in 2017, SGSC board members found large trees on the hillside. They turned out to be an apple and plum orchard, likely planted in the 1930s by Japanese immigrants. Making a deal with the purchaser — Stream Development, SGSC brought together interests in the City of Seattle, International District and City Fruit to take cuttings from the trees, graft them, and replant the saplings in their original orchard area when the apartment block construction was completed two years later.
Five Acre Woods Win
At the request of Lake Forest Park residents, SGSC partnered with Seattle Public Utilities (S.P.U.), the Lake Forest Park Stewardship Foundation, the Lake Forest Park City Council, King County Conservation Futures, and local citizens to make this surplus S.P.U. property — five acres of forest and wetland — into a city park for Lake Forest Park.
Loyal Heights Win
The former SCL Loyal Heights substation was sold to a developer who will complete Copper Pines Habitat for Humanity townhomes in early 2022. Certified to Evergreen Sustainable Development Standards, they’ll house seven deserving families in three-story, 1200 square foot, 3-bedroom, 2-bath homes. All adjoining trees were retained.
Dakota Substation Today — Urban Homestead tomorrow?
Other Projects For Action
2035 Comprehensive Plan: Help SGSC work with the Mayor, City Council, and our partner groups to keep green space metrics, and urban green spaces access in the 2035 Plan.
Support the Urban Homestead Foundation: UHF is working to purchase and transform City Light’s Dakota Substation into a nature and education park . They need less than $65,000 to do it now. UHF is a 501(c)3 organization — contributions are tax deductible.
Add to Seattle’s green spaces and P-Patches! To build P-Patches & Beacon Hill Food Forest, contact your Department of Neighborhoods Director. To boost Seattle Parks’ acquisition and maintenance budgets, and require Seattle’s Construction & Inspections Dept. to enforce tree protection laws, contact your Mayor and City Council.