Streets around ex-CHOP zone reopened

SEATTLE — The area formerly known as CHOP is no more. The streets around what was the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest zone reopened just after 12:30 Friday afternoon, after being closed for nearly four weeks.

Clean up began around the East Precinct moments after the reopening of 12th Avenue to traffic. Pike and Pine Streets opened back up as well.

David Hoover and 14-year-old Shinjin James sat outside their old haunt that was once there, not far from their minds.

“On the whole, I think a lot of good came out of it,” said David. “I think probably it was time to move to another level now and try to start working on the change that they’re seeking. And I think it’s been really hard on the businesses. And they’ve been cooperative.”

“I mean, the road was blocked off but at least it was for like a good reason,” said Shinjin James. “So yeah, I’m glad everyone agrees the protest were like a good thing and that black lives do matter.”

After two deadly shootings over as many weekends, Seattle police cleared out the CHOP under an emergency order issued by Seattle’s mayor.

Dozens of people were arrested, and officers reoccupied a building they abandoned three weeks earlier.

But Captain Bryan Grenon, who runs the East Precinct, says they are not fully back yet.

“I mean, there was a ton of work that our city employees had to do to restore that damage,” said Grenon. “I mean it’s not really functioning at this time until we get everything back up.”

Still this is not a welcome sight to everyone.

“They’re going to do what they’re going to do regardless,” said Tony Boutte, who protested at the start. “And we just have to stop them at each step of the way.”

Indeed, all indications are protesters are planning to return as night falls.

VIDEO: Man says bullet went through his apartment window during fatal shooting at ex-CHOP zone A man says a bullet went through his apartment window during a fatal shooting at the ex-CHOP zone.

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