Seattle to Pay $34 Million for Aurora Avenue North Land for Water Hub; Century-Old Shops Face Relocation
The City of Seattle is moving ahead with a $34 million land acquisition on Aurora Avenue North to build a consolidated utility operations center, a deal that would displace several long-standing local businesses. Mayor Katie Wilson approved the transaction after months of City Council deliberation; the city has paid a $2 million deposit. The properties involved are Puetz Golf, Mekong Village and Zapffe Silversmiths.
Seattle Public Utilities plans to turn the site into its "North One Water" hub, bringing water, drainage and wastewater crews together in one location. The purchase is funded from the city's 2026 budget, and the utility expects to take over the properties in late 2027. The deal is not yet final: Puetz Golf CEO David Puetz called it "a potential acquisition," saying it is early and that even the down payment has not been paid, and that the escrow deposit is refundable.
Tenants were surprised by the relocation news: Zapffe Silversmiths vice president Thad Thompson said he received no advance notice and his lease expires next month. The shop has operated at the location since 1994, repairing sterling silver, brass, copper and pewter; it has been family-run for 107 years, and Thompson's nearly 101-year-old mother still answers the phones six days a week. Thompson said that even if the shop must move, the century-old business will not end.
Source: FOX 13 Seattle
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Photo: 图：西雅图极光大道一带（99号州道跨线）。图片来源：Wikimedia Commons，Grendelkhan 摄，CC BY-SA 4.0。 Image: The Aurora Avenue corridor in Seattle. Source: Wikimedia Commons, photo by Grendelkhan, CC BY-SA 4.0.
