Who Owns the Waterfront? Dry Dock Company Asks Seattle to Erase Three Streets
The Seattle Dry Dock and Shipping Company wants Charles, Plummer, and Norman streets vacated so its tide-land property can conform to the official plat—a request that raises questions about private control of public streets.
The Seattle Dry Dock and Shipping Company through Robert Moran sent a communication to the city council yesterday asking that it cause Charles, Plummer and Norman streets to be vacated from Railroad avenue west to deep water, so that the company's property, when title is secured from the state, will conform to the plat as filed by the King county tide land appraisers. The company advances several reasons for making the request, and states among others that it prefers to conduct its business in a large block, and not subdivided, for one thing that the latter would necessitate extra expense and operate against the company's welfare. It is claimed in the communication that private individuals do not care to purchase from the state property through which the city will insist upon retaining established streets, and it is suggested that something be done looking to a settlement of the matter. The company closes its communication by stating that it is its desire to have its property conform to the plat of the tide land appraisers.
“The company advances several reasons for making the request, and states among others that it prefers to conduct its business in a large block, and not subdivided, for one thing that the latter would necessitate extra expense and operate against the company's welfare.”
This story echoes modern debates over public waterfront access, private development, and the use of street vacations to benefit corporations. The request by the Dry Dock Company to erase public streets for private consolidation is a reminder that the struggle between public space and private profit is as old as Seattle itself.
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