Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes has shut down the Oaktree Motel on Aurora Avenue North using a chronic nuisance property designation, citing ongoing criminal activity including sex trafficking and drug-related crimes.
The motel, located about a mile from Green Lake, drew police responses 43 times this year for incidents ranging from assaults and drug activity to prostitution and human trafficking. Officers arrested a convicted trafficker at the property two weeks before the closure.
“There was a pattern of dangerous behavior,” Barnes said. “We’re not in the business of closing down small businesses—we’re in the business of public safety. But if a business is enabling harm in our community, we won’t look away.”
The chronic nuisance designation is rarely used, with only four issued in the past five years. It’s one of the city’s strongest tools for addressing properties that harbor sustained illegal activity.
City Attorney Ann Davison, who worked with Barnes on the case, said the situation was particularly concerning due to the vulnerability of victims, many of whom were young women and girls of color, some reportedly as young as 15.
“This is not someone else’s problem,” Davison said. “This is our problem. These girls could be our daughters, our friends, our neighbors. We have a duty to intervene.”
The motel, operated by Madilyn Investments LLC, has closed operations following the police order. The owners have up to two years to implement corrective measures if they want to reopen, though they have not responded publicly.
Barnes issued his first chronic nuisance order earlier this year against the Capri Hookah Lounge in South Seattle following a double homicide linked to the premises. Both actions reflect his focus on preventive policing rather than just reacting to crimes after they occur.
“This isn’t just about shutting down buildings—it’s about changing behavior, setting expectations, and showing that in Seattle, we don’t tolerate exploitation,” Barnes said.
City officials say the closures are part of a broader strategy to protect neighborhoods from crimes that target vulnerable populations.
