Nickelsville residents vow to stay at Port of Seattle park

Nickelsville residents packing up its encampment on a South Seattle lot in July. The camp moved to a Port of Seattle park. (Photo: Elliot Stoller)

As another group of homeless prepared to sleep in front of Seattle City Councilman Tim Burgess' home Tuesday night, the residents of the Nickelsvile homeless encampment vowed to stay at a Port of Seattle park despite a deadline to leave on Wednesday.

Nickelsville spokesman Revel Smith said in a press conference that police are expected to arrive at Terminal 107 Park at noon on Wednesday to evict the encampment set up in part as a protest that not more is done by Seattle about homelessness.

"Nickelodeons who plan to stay and peacefully stand-up to removal by police will ultimately risk arrest," the statement said.

Port spokeswoman Charla Skaggs said the port is hoping the encampment will leave. 'We remain hopeful that Nickelsville members will leaver voluntarily by tomorrow's deadline. Certain area churches have said they are available to help if Nickelsville requests that help; we hope that a safe, legal altternate loca-on will be found," she said.

The encampment has been at Terminal 107 on the Duwamish River since July 23 after being kicked off state transportation department property in South Seattle.

The PostGlobe was the only news organization to accompany the encampment during the move. Here's the story.

On Aug. 25, though, the port gave the encampment until Sept. 30. It said at the time: "the port has no authority to provide temporary housing, the shoreline park is an inappropriate location for the encampment, and the camp violates Seattle city code. Port officials reiterated their hope that encampment members and advocates will continue efforts to find an appropriate site for the group, and that they will leave port property voluntarily"

Meanwhile, Burgess posted on his Facebook page:  "I'm experiencing the reality of our freedom to protest and petition the government."