Fauntleroy Schoolhouse purchase finally a done deal

schoolhouse.jpgTwo years in the making, the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse purchase is complete, confirms the Fauntleroy Children’s Center, whom we’d contacted after getting this city news release at day’s end. As we’ve reported previously, it became a two-part purchase – first the schoolhouse and part of the site, then more of the site (as OK’d by Seattle Public Schools last month). Lauri from FCC tells WSB, “We will be toasting at our annual auction next weekend” – that’s the FCC annual auction on March 6 – and adds there’ll be a celebration scheduled at a later date. As the city news release notes, the money used for the purchase includes almost $2 million from the state and $1 million from the city; now the Fauntleroy Community Services Agency will have to raise millions more to fix up the building, which the school district had declared “surplus,” leading to it being put up for sale.

7 Replies to "Fauntleroy Schoolhouse purchase finally a done deal"

  • dhg February 26, 2010 (6:41 pm)

    To save money, they COULD turn off the security lights late at night. The back 40 is lit like they’re waiting for the planes to land.

  • Bruce Butterfield February 26, 2010 (6:51 pm)

    Hurray! This is great news for the families whose kids have benefitted from over two decades of award winning and nationally recognized child care at the Fauntleroy Children’s Center. Hats off to all those who spent hours, months and even years making this happen. The community as a whole benefits too, by keeping a neighborhood icon that has been an important part of our history. CONGRATULATIONS to ALL!

    -Bruce Butterfield, Fauntleroy Community Association

  • erin February 26, 2010 (7:22 pm)

    What do they use the building for? What goes on in there?

    • WSB February 26, 2010 (7:39 pm)

      Erin, the Fauntleroy Children’s Center, Seattle Civic Dance, Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering are the main tenants. Tuxedoes and Tennis Shoes is an event presenter under the banner The Hall at Fauntleroy – weddings and galas, among other things. It’s also a major meeting venue on the south side of West Seattle; the 34th District Democrats meet there regularly, the Fauntleroy Community Association has its meetings there, and numerous one-off-type public meetings happen there too (the first one we ever attended was three years ago, a city-county postmortem about the Great Windstorm of 2006). The building will be owned by the nonprofit Fauntleroy Community Services Agency, which envisions being able to bring in more tenants, and having it be even more of a thriving community center like some of the North Seattle ex-schools (Phinney comes to mind) that are used that way.

  • J February 26, 2010 (8:03 pm)

    hurrah!

  • chas redmond February 26, 2010 (9:19 pm)

    This is fantastic news. Congratulations to everyone involved. This is really and truly a great day for Fauntleroy folks and everyone else here in West Seattle and in the whole city. Neighborhood assets like these are anchors for so much of the fabric of the city and for tying our present into our past. Kudos galore for this. As I said, truly great news for everyone. Plus, it’s a damned fine place for a whole bunch of activities, events and gatherings.

  • David February 28, 2010 (6:59 pm)

    Now the real work begins. That building has been in a dilapidated state for decades, and it is a real eye-sore in this area.

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