Comments on: Construction starts tomorrow at Westside School’s new home

By: WSB

WSB — Thu, 08 May 2014 20:01:09 +0000

In reply to Janet Ford. Have mentioned it elsewhere. There were no signs of homicide per SPD but toxicology reports for a final ruling haven't come in yet.

By: Janet Ford

Janet Ford — Thu, 08 May 2014 19:47:03 +0000

On April 15 there was a death in a fire near the West Seattle Police Precint and Home Depot. Has there been any determination in that death yet. It sure sounded suspicious to me.

By: KM

KM — Fri, 02 May 2014 15:05:11 +0000

Westside have been wonderful neighbors, it will be sad to see them go! I hope they do use the school again, with considerations for removing the sunlight-blocking fence sheet and improving driver-pedestrian safety. Would be very excited for increased patrols to help diminish texting while driving during pick-up and drop-off.

By: Krista

Krista — Thu, 01 May 2014 23:52:40 +0000

We love you Judy! Best wishes for a smooth transition and, to tag on to Betsy’s comment, let coop families old and new help with the move.

By: Judy Hall

Judy Hall — Thu, 01 May 2014 22:54:56 +0000

Thanks, Betsy. Yes, the dedicated parents and staff of Arbor Heights Cooperative Preschool have been actively involved in a site search for quite some time. AH Co-op will be relocating temporarily to Tibbetts United Methodist Church. Plans are in the making to move back to the Arbor Heights neighborhood, but they need to wait for an official church board decision before we make that announcement.
Judy Hall, SSCC Parent Co-op Preschool Instructor

By: Betsy

Betsy — Thu, 01 May 2014 18:54:02 +0000

NT, I can’t agree with you more.

I was involved in the co-op when the building was first put up for sale and did some initial work on the search committee. It IS a really hard job, and finding a comparable affordable place takes so, so many volunteer hours.

As for Westside buying the building, if you ask me that was the best possible outcome. Someone was going to buy it; the idea of AH Coop staying in perpetuity was sadly not possible. We had other groups initially looking at purchasing it that would have needed the whole building right away, so to have Westside come in and be very upfront about their plans and give us some time was great.

And yes, I would also disagree with the assessment that they’ve been ‘kicking the can down the road’.

Good luck AH!! You know how to find me if you need any help moving :)

By: NT

NT — Thu, 01 May 2014 18:09:51 +0000

Just to quickly jump in here, I have been involved at AH Co-op for the past two years and must respectfully respond to Bertha’s comment. No one is accusing Westside of anything; quite obviously they bought a building that was for sale and have been pursuing plans and permitting to make a wonderful new home for their community – that is terrific! On the co-op side, there has been an active site search committee both years; this past year alone, they have contacted/visited 49 different locations. The Hillcrest site has been a wonderful, spacious, nearly perfect home for more than 15 years and it is indeed nearly impossible to find a comparable space. I think the co-op parents and staff who have poured countless hours into the process would not characterize their efforts as kicking the can down the road. This is not a co-op versus Westside situation, everyone is trying their very best to do the right thing for their school and I believe both wonderful communities will end up with fabulous new homes!

By: j

Thu, 01 May 2014 17:01:48 +0000

Transportation and pedestrian upgrades (I use the word”upgrade”loosely cause there has to be something already there to upgrade) can not be ignored with 300 additional students coming to the new AH elementary and now 500 more a block away at Westside. The lack of pedestrian facilities and speed control (ie; speed bumps and stop signs) may finally get some attention… or does a serious accident have to happen first?

By: KT

KT — Thu, 01 May 2014 14:38:03 +0000

Welcome to the neighborhood! I hope they put in sidewalks on 104th and stop signs at the intersection of 34th and 104th. It’s a blind, uncontrolled intersection and many people drive down the hill on 104th at higher speeds than 20 mph. I’m not holding my breath for the sidewalk, but the stop signs are a no-brainer.

By: bertha

bertha — Thu, 01 May 2014 13:23:25 +0000

Coop Rules – My daughter attended AH Coop years ago and we loved it. I do have to say though that AH Coop has known for over two years they would have to move but chose to not actively pursue alternative sites. By choosing to keep kicking the can down the road instead of dealing with less than ideal sites the powers that be have put the program in jeopardy NOT Westside.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 01 May 2014 04:29:27 +0000

Thank you WSB. They are starting the move process from AH to Boren already, and Westside will be in the Hughes building for at LEAST one more school year, as mentioned in the story above. So AH occupying Hughes was never an option. BUT you could take Roxhill, move them into Hughes, which has had major upgrading already, and use Roxhill as emergency. THAT would make too much sense.

By: WSB

WSB — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:50:26 +0000

In reply to ocean. Because it won't be ready in time. Hughes won't be available for another year, at least. Depends on what if any upgrades they need to do after Westside leaves.

By: ocean

ocean — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:47:30 +0000

If Hughes is the new stand-by building, why doesn’t the district use it for the students at Arbor Heights instead of sending them to Boren?
.
Oh, because that would make sense and save money on fuel for buses.

By: Tony

Tony — Thu, 01 May 2014 03:12:39 +0000

Hughes become the new emergency stand by building, like Boren was for several years. It’s in such nice shape, wish they would open it as a neighborhood school. BUT, SSD needs to keep buildings on standby in case of emergency needs ie flooding, fire, etc.

By: Scoot

Scoot — Thu, 01 May 2014 01:19:45 +0000

Welcome to Arbor Heights