Must Read Alaska revisited a wooded area in South Anchorage this month, where we first reported in April on sprawling, often multi-level vagrant encampments hidden within a greenbelt near Northwood/Strawberry/Raspberry Road residential neighborhoods.
New drone footage taken by a concerned neighbor in late July shows not only that the camps remain, but that they’ve grown:
The footage, shot over the wooded area reveals an alarming accumulation of trash, debris, and makeshift structures — all on public land and all still untouched by municipal intervention.
Must Read Alaska brought this issue to public attention with drone images capturing the magnitude of the problem: multiple large encampments only somewhat concealed beneath the forest canopy. In April the camps already showed signs of long-term settlement, with some featuring stacked structures, extensive tarps, and large amounts of household items and waste. Neighbors are now calling it an occupation.
“Nothing has changed,” said a source who lives nearby. “If anything, there are more structures, more trash, and more activity. It’s a permanent occupation now.”
Despite repeated complaints from nearby homeowners and calls for action to the Anchorage Police Department and city officials, no visible cleanup or abatement has occurred. It’s SLAZ South — the Mayor Suzanne LaFrance Autonomous Zone.
The Campbell Creek Trail, once a beloved path for runners, cyclists, and dog walkers, has become a “no-go zone.” Reports of open drug use, theft, and vandalism have steadily increased on social media, even as city officials speak of compassion and transitional housing strategies. The new law that passed this month prohibiting occupation of public land has not touched this encampment.
The latest drone footage shows dozens of tarps, makeshift shelters, shopping carts, discarded electronics, and household waste scattered across the forest floor. Some structures are clearly long-established and reinforced, indicating the occupants have little fear of being removed.
A work session of the Anchorage Assembly is set for Monday to discuss another $18 million in grant awards for congregate shelter services in Anchorage.
Meanwhile, Mayor Suzanne LaFrance announced last week a “Beyond the Beige” program to award $100,000 in public money to muralists to paint images on buildings around the downtown area.
Must Read Alaska will continue to monitor the occupation and provide updates as the summer progresses.
