SEATTLE - A sea of bright pink tents remains at a South Seattle homeless camp dubbed "Nickelsville" as the 5 p.m. deadline came and went for occupants of the impromptu city to leave.

The city-issued eviction notice convinced some residents of the camp to move on. But many of the approximately 100 people who are staying there say they will not go.

The camp, located in a grassy field off West Marginal Way Southwest in South Seattle, was visited at least twice Thursday by Seattle police officers.

And earlier, the city of Seattle ordered a crew of Department of Transportation workers to pound in "no trespassing" signs all over the homeless camp.

A few homeless folks packed up their stuff and said they'd rather sleep on the streets than risk getting arrested. One man said he's so sick, a night in jail might kill him.

But dozens of others say they're not budging.

One of them is David Mullin, who says, "The only way they're taking me is in cuffs."

"I don't want my 19-month-old and two-month-old back on the streets and I'll go to prison before that happens," he added.

Another homeless camp resident is Anthony Washington, who says the camp is clean.

"We have medical people coming up here, we have Honey Buckets," he says. "We're keeping the place clean."

But the city of Seattle says it is a matter of public health, and the signs to shut down the camp have been posted.

A city representative said earlier Thursday that she is aware that the camp is a political protest. But if the homeless don't leave and carry out an act of civil disobedience, they will be arrested, she said.

Meanwhile, city officials remained mum about when police and city staff would move in to do a clean sweep of the property and kick everyone out.

Mayor Greg Nickels has said that when the time does come, it won't just be police officers coming to enforce the move out order. Homeless advocates also will be on hand to try and help the residents find a new place to stay.

Suka, who is homeless, said the city's high rent and real estate values make it difficult for down-and-outers to get on their feet. Nickelsville, she said, was established to make that point.

The homeless encampment was set up on an empty lot early Sunday morning by a loosely organized group of advocates to dramatize the lack of low-cost housing.

Their actions have rattled Highland Park neighbors who already were organizing to fight City Hall for making the same lot one of four possible sites for a jail.

City crews posted the 72-hour notice to vacate the property late Monday.

"The city is going to treat this like any other encampment," said Karin Zaugg Black, a spokeswoman for Nickels. "The city protocol calls to send out staff and do outreach, talk to them about different services that are available to them, offer a shelter bed."

Black said the mayor respects political demonstrations and doesn't mind having a homeless camp bearing his name.

Dan Mullins, who lives in Highland Park within a mile of the tents, said some in the neighborhood may be angry or fearful after being caught by surprise.

"I think that's a first reaction anybody would have. Here are people who moved in and we don't know who they are," Mullins said. "We're a very sympathetic neighborhood. We're open-minded. We want to see who is there and see how it's going to be organized before we decide if we're for or against them."

The Puget Sound area is no stranger to fights over homeless encampments. Several tent cities circulate from site to site through the city, its suburbs and as far away as Olympia at the south end of the sound. Several times legal action has been taken by wary neighbors.