Work has begun at Gas Works Park following a city-issued hazard correction order tied to portions of the park’s iconic Cracking Towers.
Seattle Parks and Recreation spokesperson Christina Hirsch said construction began on April 22 and is limited to “removal of specific appurtenances within the fenced area,” adding that “the remaining structures are not affected.”
According to Hirsch, the work is expected to take up to two months and will involve contractor access, movement of workers, and delivery and removal of materials.
The update follows previous reporting by My Ballard on a Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections (SDCI) permit authorizing partial demolition work at the site.
The March 30 hazard correction order states that the SDCI determined portions of the cracking towers’ pedestrian appurtenances, including piping, catwalks, ladders, and tower structures originally designed for maintenance and operations, were unsafe after being accessed by trespassers despite prevention efforts.
The order directs Seattle Parks and Recreation to “remove the hazard conditions affecting the pedestrian appurtenances from the Gas Works Park Cracking Towers.”
In a previous email, Hirsch noted that an independent engineer concluded that parts of the towers lacked structural integrity, which poses not only a danger to trespassers but also to Seattle Parks maintenance staff who work in and around the Cracking Towers. The engineer also determined that removal of these specific elements would not impact the structural stability of the Cracking Towers themselves.
Gas Works Park remains open during the construction.
Photo: Seattle Parks / TIA International Photography