A Tale of Two Aurora Motels

Green Lake Motel by Grundlepuck, The Seals Motel by 24 Hour Moon

A second Aurora Avenue Motel has been declared unsafe and unsanitary by the Washington State Department of Health. Today, residents of the Seals Motel are facing a state-sanctioned ouster, while just two weeks ago it was residents of the Green Lake Motel who experienced the same. It would seem the Department of Health could have just photocopied the report against the Green Lake Motel and changed the name, as the findings are identical.

According to separate P-I reports on the motel closures, both motels were sited for

"drug paraphernalia in some of the rooms, ...some smoke detectors didn't work, there were unsanitary mattresses, mold, exposed electrical wiring, filthy floors, walls and fixtures, and other unhealthy conditions."

According to the more detailed description of the conditions at the Green Lake Motel "other unhealthy conditions" included "cockroaches, ... piles of trash, dirty dishes, and feces."

Residents of the Seals Motel have until Wednesday at midnight to vacate their home. The Motel will not be able to reopen until a hearing is held in regard to the violations. Similar to many of the low-income residents of the Green Lake Motel, many of the ousted Seals residents have nowhere to go, and face homelessness upon eviction.