New Shoreline Master Program might eliminate iconic "liveaboards"
Author: Daniel Himebaugh
The Seattle Times reports that the City of Seattle's forthcoming Shoreline Master Program could spell the end of house barges in the city's marinas. House barges are vessels that people use as residences. They are also known as "liveaboards." Think of the floating home from Sleepless in Seattle, but with a motor.
House barge owners typically rent a slip in a marina. But the city's proposed SMP regulations would prohibit marinas from leasing more than 25 percent of available slips for house barges. Existing house barges would be grandfathered in, but many house barge owners fear the city's regulations would prevent them from leaving their current site, since moving the barge would mean risking not being able to find another slip.