[EDITOR’S NOTEThe following is a Letter to the Editor, written and submitted by a verified resident, and in response to another Letter we published. It does not necessarily reflect the opinions of South King Media, nor its staff:]

Stephen,

Thank you for taking the time to share with me your views of how the property should be leased.

Burien CARES, nor myself, put the said property up for lease, it was the Burien City Council. Burien CARES just responded to the open call for people / companies to lease the property; as I understand they had 4 potential leases. I am glad they picked CARES over potentially others that might not made it a dog park but maybe something else.  

The Downtown area is in need of a dog park, it is really what this little grassy area was used for in the past and was always referenced to as a Dog Park. We are just in the negotiating part of this and I am not aware yet of what the expectations are from the city. At this time I have no clue what this lease would look like or entail. Once it is determined then a separate, independent fundraiser will be put in place, similar to the current dog park on SW 160th, which currently resides under Burien CARES as well. The intention is to get outside funding to help transform this into a dog park, not touching our reserve or our day to day operating budget. 

As for the unhoused individuals currently living on this piece of land, it is my understanding the City staff and Council are working extremely hard to find them a more suitable place to reside as a downtown location is not ideal for them and their safety.

I understand your concern, and thank you for taking the time to reach out to us.

– Debra George
Burien / Des Moines C.A.R.E.S. 
Director

EDITOR’S NOTEDo you have an opinion you’d like to share with our highly engaged local Readers? If so, please email your Letter to the Editor to scott@southkingmedia.com and, pending review and verification that you’re a real human being, we may publish it. Letter writers must use their full names and cite sources – as well as provide an address and phone number (NOT for publication but for verification purposes).

Since 2007, The B-Town Blog is Burien’s multiple award-winning hyperlocal news/events website dedicated to independent journalism.

5 replies on “LETTER: Burien CARES responds to concerns regarding leasing property on SW 152nd Street”

  1. While humans are a must animals cannot speak or work to take care of themselves! These homeless people can. I work and pay rent and don’t rely on downtown Burien for a place to live. Sorry they don’t pay a dime to be there. Time to move them along and let the city be what it was.

  2. Harsh. Burien has done very little to help the homeless in this town, estimated at 150. Other communities around us have done very much more to deal with this issue that involves every city in this country. The cost of living in the Seattle area is in the top 11 most expensive in the country. We need to help those who are in need.

  3. I am in support of Burien Cares leasing the property, which was and should remain a dog park for the city of Burien. The homeless should never have been told they could camp here at this site. There are services if they would take advantage of them and Many don’t, it is time we find a different location for them.
    They do not need to be hid but they do not need to be on any high foot traffic area of Burien. We cannot let our businesses suffer financial loss. Lack of shoppers, theft , open drug use and harassment will do just that.

  4. What has the world come to?
    We must have a place for dogs feces and not a place for humans?
    I understand it’s an eye sore but how about close the methadone clinics and the homeless on 152 won’t be on 152 with the methadone clinic on

  5. Why should our city allow itself to be overrun by drug addicts from elsewhere? We pay taxes to have a downtown shopping area that we aren’t afraid to use. Enforce the laws and send them back where they came from.

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