Seattle, Washington Puts $2 Million Down on $34 Million Aurora Avenue Site for North One Water Utility Hub

Seattle is moving ahead with a $34 million purchase of land on Aurora Avenue North for a centralized utility operations center, a plan that would replace several long-standing businesses on the corridor, FOX 13 Seattle reported.

Mayor Katie Wilson approved the land deal after months of City Council reviews, according to the city legislation records linked in the FOX 13 report. The city confirmed it has placed a $2 million deposit on the bundled properties. The bundle includes Puetz Golf, the Mekong Village shopping plaza and Zapffe Silversmiths.

The North One Water plan

Seattle Public Utilities plans to turn the site into a hub called North One Water. The facility would consolidate the utility's water, drainage and wastewater crews into a single location, according to the city records.

The property owner, Puetz Associates, bundled the parcels together, which prompted the city's purchase effort, SPU said in the records. City officials consider the site suitable, subject to routine due diligence reviews. The purchase is funded through Seattle's 2026 budget, and future utility rate proposals and business plans are slated to cover construction costs.

SPU officials said they foresee no obstacles to closing and expect to take over the properties later in 2027.

The businesses in the way

The plan surprised some tenants whose businesses now face uncertain futures. Thad Thompson, vice president of Zapffe Silversmiths, told FOX 13 he had no advance notice of the city's plans, although he had recently spotted SPU crews in the area. His lease expires next month.

"It would've been helpful to know," Thompson said. "We're going to have to make some significant planning."

Zapffe Silversmiths has operated at the Aurora Avenue location since 1994, in a converted warehouse that Thompson said gives the business ample parking and convenient access for customers. The business itself is 107 years old and specializes in the restoration of sterling silver, brass, copper, bronze and pewter. Thompson said his mother, who is nearly 101, still handles the phones at the shop six days a week.

A forced move will not end the family business, Thompson told FOX 13. "We believe we do excellent work. We also believe we have an excellent reputation with our customers," he said.

What is not settled

The sale is not final. Puetz Golf leadership emphasized that the transaction is not yet finalized, and CEO David Puetz described the agreement in a text message to FOX 13 as a "potential purchase." He said it is "too early, not even a down payment yet," and noted that the city's escrow deposit remains refundable.

FOX 13 said it asked Seattle Public Utilities for an interview or an official statement and had not received one when its report aired; the office was closed for the holiday when the station followed up with questions about what happens next for Zapffe Silversmiths.