A group of Seattle residents is organizing to oppose plans to subdivide and develop residential housing on portions of the historic Crown Hill Cemetery.
According to a press release from the group Save Crown Hill Cemetery, neighbors recently received notice from the City of Seattle about an application that would create residential lots on cemetery property. The cemetery, founded in 1903, spans 10 acres.
Save Crown Hill Cemetery held its first public community planning meeting on Monday, December 22, where organizers coordinated a response to the proposed development. Organizers say they have already secured an extension of the public comment deadline from December 24 to January 7, allowing additional time for community input during the holiday season.
In a press release from the Save Crown Hill Cemetery group, longtime resident Karen Ellis questioned the proposal after learning about the plans through survey stakes placed near gravesites, raising concerns about building housing on cemetery land.
“Why are you building in a cemetery?” Ellis said. “We have the need for housing, I get that. But building on top of a cemetery? I don’t know if anyone would want to live there.”
The cemetery went into receivership after its owners defaulted on a loan. A court-appointed receiver is now overseeing the property and has proposed subdividing outer portions of the cemetery for residential development. Two corner parcels are included in the plan, one of which was sold in 2023.
Save Crown Hill Cemetery outlined several concerns about the proposal. These include respect for sacred ground, the preservation of century-old trees, and transparency in the development process. Organizers also raised concerns about the project’s timing, ahead of Seattle’s strengthened tree protection ordinance taking effect January 1, 2026, and the precedent it could set for other financially troubled cemeteries.
Washington state law requires court approval and confirmation that no human remains are present before cemetery land can be removed from its dedication and developed. Developers have stated that only vacant portions of the cemetery would be built upon, though community members involved with the coalition question whether any part of the cemetery grounds should be repurposed for housing.
The public comment period runs through January 7, 2026. Comments can be submitted through the city’s online portal.