Save Crown Hill Cemetery!
Join us in protecting Crown Hill Cemetery in Seattle as a place of rest, remembrance, and community heritage. We need 50 public comments by January 7th to trigger a mandatory public hearing. Find link below.Also, scroll all the way down to find out how you can help and get involved, as well as read a history of Crown Hill Cemetery.
What's Happening?
The 122 year old Crown Hill cemetery in Seattle is being subdivided to build houses on its edges. We need 50+ public comments by January 7th to force a public hearing. You can submit your comment here in 2 minutes:https://services.seattle.gov/Portal/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=COSPubComments&capID1=25CAP&capID2=00000&capID3=04OV8&agencyCode=SEATTLE&IsToShowInspection=What is Happening:Crown Hill Cemetery in Seattle (founded 1903; 8712 12th Ave NW) went into receivership after the owners defaulted on a loan. Instead of selling to another cemetery operator, the court-appointed receiver is carving off corner parcels for development.The Development Plan:Parcel #1: SW Corner: (8712 12th Ave NW, Parcel 3626039370): 2 residential lots (~0.29 acres) for houses + ADUs, listed at $600k. WE ARE CHALLENGING THIS RIGHT NOWParcel #2: NE Corner: (8845 9th Ave NW, Parcel 3626039445): Already sold April 2023 for $410k, building permit likely filedParcel #3: Main Cemetery: (8712 12th Ave NW, Parcel 3626039370): Remaining 9.5 acres listed at $500k for cemetery operators, but no buyer yet.Why This Matters:Respect for the deceased and their families - Families chose Crown Hill as a peaceful final resting place for their loved ones.Loss of community green space - Crown Hill Cemetery serves as one of the few accessible green spaces in the neighborhood. Residents use the paths for daily walks, exercise, and quiet reflection.Destruction of irreplaceable trees - The development would require removing at least 30 trees that are over a century old. The timing is concerning: permits are being pushed through before Seattle's strengthened tree protection ordinance takes effect on January 1, 2026.Key Parties Involved:Receiver: Dan Constantinescu (Pacific Crest Realty Advisors)Lender: Legacy Group CapitalThere are reports that a City of Seattle IT employee (Adam Battaglia) may have a financial interest in the development, which would raise serious ethics concernsThe permit timeline appears designed to avoid the new tree protection regulations that take effect on Jan 1st 2026The Action Needed: Submit a Public Comment (Takes 2 Minutes)Deadline: January 7, 2026We need to have atleast 50 comments on this project so we can get a public hearing. Again, you can submit your comment here in 2 minutes:https://services.seattle.gov/Portal/Cap/CapDetail.aspx?Module=COSPubComments&capID1=25CAP&capID2=00000&capID3=04OV8&agencyCode=SEATTLE&IsToShowInspection=WHAT YOUR COMMENT MUST INCLUDE (MANDATORY):Your comment MUST include these two statements, in your own words:"I do not agree with this proposed development" (or similar clear statement of opposition)"I request a public hearing" (or "I am requesting a public hearing on this matter")That's it! If you only write two sentences, that is okay - as long as these two points are clear.You can also optionally include your reasons, such as:Disrespect to families/deceasedLoss of neighborhood green spaceDestruction of 100+ year old treesNo affordable housing requirementFull Comment Guide here:https://docs.google.com/document/d/16ZFlpUenuZmApaX8TKxiRy3ACZWt0JRbTo Get Involved:Volunteer Signup: https://forms.gle/c6nJrHchQaoE8Csa7Change Petition: https://c.org/nv5rqKPnSHDiscord (Community Server): https://discord.gg/ADAqfkhkFacebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61585444495150Instagram Page: https://instagram.com/savecrownhillEmail Contact: [email protected]Website: https://savecrownhill.carrd.co/For More Media Sources/Coverage:KOMO News. (2025, December 18). Neighbors push back on Crown Hill Cemetery redevelopment plan. KOMONews.com. https://www.komonews.com/news/local/crown-hill-cemetery-redevelopmentSeattle Medium. (2024, February 12). Owners forced to sell Crown Hill Cemetery after loan default. SeattleMedium.com. https://www.seattlemedium.com/owners-forced-to-sell-crown-hill-cemeteryInvestigateWest. (2025, September 10). Developers accelerate tree removal ahead of new Seattle ordinance. InvestigateWest.org. https://www.investigatewest.org/2025/09/10/developers-accelerate-tree-removal-seattleKING 5 News. (2025, February 17). Crown Hill Cemetery housing plan stirs concern [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOXGirZAESMKING 5 News. (2025, February 17). Crown Hill Cemetery housing plan stirs concern. King5.com. https://www.king5.com/article/news/local/seattle/crown-hill-cemetery-developments/281-1485017f-591b-4263-a76c-ca42198e6c48
A History of Crown Hill Cemetery
Crown Hill Cemetery, founded in 1903, stands as one of Seattle’s oldest community burial grounds and the earliest landmark of what is now the Crown Hill neighborhood. Long before houses, paved streets, or commercial development appeared, the cemetery occupied nearly ten acres of heavily forested land north of Ballard. Its presence predates most surrounding homes and even the neighborhood’s name, which was derived directly from the cemetery itself—underscoring its foundational role in the area’s history.At the turn of the twentieth century, Ballard was a booming industrial town known as the “Shingle Capital of the World,” with a population of more than 10,000 residents by 1900 and dozens of mills operating along the waterfront. As Ballard expanded rapidly, the need for additional burial space became urgent. In September 1902, a cemetery association was formed, land was purchased, and clearing began. A road was extended north from Ballard to serve the new burial ground. By 1903, half of the land had been cleared, and the first interments took place, marking the official founding of Crown Hill Cemetery.Crown Hill’s early years coincided with significant changes in Seattle’s burial landscape. In 1907, approximately two dozen bodies were moved to Crown Hill from the nearby Greenwood Cemetery (formerly Woodland Cemetery), which had been established in 1891 by pioneer David T. Denny and later sold for residential development. This transfer reinforced Crown Hill’s role as Ballard’s primary community cemetery. From the beginning, it served residents of modest means as well as prominent local figures, reflecting the social fabric of a working waterfront town.The cemetery bears witness to major historic events. Victims of the 1918 Spanish influenza pandemic, including many infants and children, are buried there, a poignant reminder of early twentieth-century public health crises. In 1919, a fire destroyed a building and many cemetery records, leaving lasting gaps in documentation. Despite these losses, Crown Hill continued to evolve. In 1923, the cemetery was sold to Arthur and Louanna Marshall, who were also involved with Evergreen Washelli. Under their ownership, beautification efforts expanded, plantings were added, and a perpetual care section was established. In 1924, the grounds were replatted, removing some original roads and simplifying the layout to provide more burial space and a less formal, parish-style character that remains today.Crown Hill Cemetery is notable for its diversity and inclusivity. It is non-denominational and has always been open to people of all faiths or none. Although Ballard was predominantly Scandinavian, especially Norwegian, the cemetery reflects Seattle’s broader immigrant history. As one moves away from the oldest Scandinavian sections, markers representing Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Eastern European, and other communities appear, often clustered together. These graves, many modest and unadorned, reflect immigrant laborers, boarding-house residents, and families who contributed to Seattle’s growth but were often marginalized in life.The cemetery also serves as an important veterans’ memorial landscape. It contains the graves of at least 25 Civil War veterans—Union and Confederate—including soldiers, sailors, and even a Union Army nurse. Later generations of veterans from the Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and Vietnam are also interred there. Memorials within the grounds include a 1909 monument honoring the Grand Army of the Republic and other commemorations marking maritime tragedies and family legacies.
Despite its age and significance, Crown Hill Cemetery has remained a relatively small, community-focused burial ground, with fewer than 9,000 interments. Gates disappeared in the 1940s, reinforcing its open, neighborhood character.Today, Crown Hill Cemetery endures as one of the largest remaining green spaces in the neighborhood and a deeply personal repository of Ballard’s history. More than a burial ground, it is a living record of the workers, immigrants, children, veterans, and families who shaped Seattle — quietly anchoring a modern neighborhood to its past.