Next step on Alki Elementary’s road to rebuilding: Landmarks Board consideration

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As Alki Elementary proceeds toward its levy-funded rebuild, it will go before the city Landmarks Board for consideration. Landmark nomination is a standard step in the process when a big Seattle Public Schools project like this is planned – we’ve reported on several prior instances, going back to the Denny/Sealth project in 2008, also including Fairmount Park Elementary, the former Genesee Hill Elementary , and the old Arbor Heights Elementary, all in 2013, among others. Though it’s largely a technicality, the full nomination process has to play out, so the board will have a hearing during its next online meeting at 3:30 pm Wednesday, April 20th, as previewed here. Meantime, the $66 million rebuild is expected to start construction after next school year; for the ’23-’24 and ’24-’25 school years, Alki will hold classes at the former Schmitz Park Elementary (currently temporary home to West Seattle Elementary during its addition project).

P.S. West Seattle has four schools that are fully designated as city landmarks – E.C. Hughes (Roxhill) Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, Madison Middle School, and West Seattle High School – here’s the map showing all city landmarks.

rob April 10, 2022 (7:55 pm)

what is it with this city we treat school buildings like a throw away. every 10 or so years we have to build a new one. over in the state of Hawaii they seem to just fine with the same school buildings for the past 45 years.

WSB April 10, 2022 (8:47 pm)

You can read the school’s history on the first page of the landmark-nomination document:
http://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/Neighborhoods/HistoricPreservation/Landmarks/CurrentNominations/LPBCurrentNom_Alki_Elem.pdf
It’s comprised of sections that are from 54 to 69 years old.

rob April 10, 2022 (8:29 pm)

just imagine the carbon foot print on taking down this school. all the deasil trucks and bulldozers spewing deasil smoke. an then all the processors mining and trees cut to come up with all the new materials to build . and then all the workers driving for 8 months to and from the job every day. just because we like things shiny and new.

Lil miss April 12, 2022 (1:47 am)

So.. Actually it’s because the building is over 100 years old and a for sure death trap in an earthquake.
Nw mama April 12, 2022 (9:20 am)

@rob- take your environmental concerns elsewhere, like maybe the east side cities, where they actually do replace buildings every 20-30 years. This school has serious safety concerns as well as not being big enough for the population that has grown in the many decades since it was first built. If you care about the environment, care to build our future leaders a place to learn the foundational skills they’ll need to make a much bigger impact than you or I alone

pjk April 11, 2022 (8:09 am)

Wow, this makes me feel truly “old”. i ‘graduated’ from Alki in 1964 so i attended all my years, kindergarten thru 6th grade, in the original building (the earthquake happened the year after I left). The old part of the building was the ‘new’ addition when i attended. Great school!

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