FOLLOWUP: West Seattle’s biggest construction project months from completion

That’s a Seattle Public Schools-provided aerial view of the west and south sides of the new Alki Elementary School (3010 59th SW), months away from completion, set to open this fall for the 2026-2027 school year. (You can see a current view of the front – north-facing side – of the school via this webcam.) One of the major elements of work right now involves rebuilding the road surface of 59th; the latest update from the project team says, “The western half will be demolished and replaced by mid-January.” Closures are continuing during daytime work hours, but the street is reopening after-hours as work permits. Other updates:

During the last month we have completed the following work: gypsum concrete floor topping, installation of the ceiling grid, rough-in of the mechanical systems, masonry, exterior glazing, and mechanical penthouse metal panel installation.

The team is beginning or progressing on the following work: 59th Avenue repaving, interior lighting, interior cabinet installation, finish carpentry, acoustical treatments and tile installation.

Our next steps include: completing the interior finishes (paint and flooring) on the Community Center, completing the bioretention facilities and permanent power connection.

Alki Elementary staff and students are in their third year at the former Schmitz Park Elementary campus. The school currently has 266 students enrolled, according to the newest district update, slightly more than half the capacity of the new building. The district’s Open Enrollment for School Choice period is now under way.

Disgruntled Neighbor January 6, 2026 (2:56 pm)

Such a disappointment. Broken record: no parking. It would be lovely to have members of this planning / design committee for the school district, come and experience the pick up and drop off, then they can experience the complete s**t show it is at pickup. They should have come and — in the planning process — talked with parents and neighbors to see it first hand. So they teachers, are just supposed to haul all their things, sometimes BLOCKS AWAY where they find parking, in the weather? Maybe they could have taken the trees out up to the tennis courts and made a cutout for cars to wait, along 59th, instead it just becomes a mud pit most of the year with cars driving on the curb to stay out of the way. Maybe they could have built a parking lot. Seattle City Planners, you really need to work with your eyes open. Teachers, if I had a golf cart, I would offer you rides to your cars and back if I could.

Yawn January 6, 2026 (6:09 pm)

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“Maybe they could have taken the trees out up to the tennis courts and made a cutout for cars to wait”

This is peak West Seattle old guard complaining right here. Way to start of the new year with such a predictable and tired gripe.
Bill#1 January 6, 2026 (9:59 pm)

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You seem to be wasting your breath!
My two cents January 7, 2026 (11:47 am)

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Double yawn – Alki resident demands and exhibits outrage over any change the city makes.

Foop January 6, 2026 (5:08 pm)

Oh what a tragedy, folks walking whole blocks.

Kyle January 6, 2026 (6:31 pm)

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Foop doesn’t have to drop off kindergartners at 7:45am in the morning in the dark of January.
- K January 6, 2026 (6:43 pm)
  
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  Oh what a tragedy, parents having to model problem-solving skills for their kids instead of just pouting like their kids, until they get their way.
- Sam January 6, 2026 (6:52 pm)
  
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  My kindergartner walked or biked every day and never whined as much as you people.
  - Kyle January 7, 2026 (6:59 am)
    
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    Real pull yourself up by your boot straps story for your 5 year old! Probably did it in the dark and the rain leaving the house at 7:15am to make the 30 minute walk (no bus service for up to a mile from the school) on time. All families should do this too!
  - Cal January 7, 2026 (1:32 pm)
    
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    Sam, it’s great your family has that privilege! But maybe don’t rub it in other people’s faces.
    
    Many people driving do so out of necessity, for reasons including rigid work hours, lack of accessible public transit, and physical disability.
    - k January 7, 2026 (2:05 pm)
      
      There are families driving out of necessity at all the other elementary schools too. Schools that also don’t have enormous parking lots or the massive pickup/drop off areas being asked for at this school. Schools that start earlier so it’s just as dark, if not darker outside. And they’re fine. Families walk out of necessity at other schools because they can’t afford cars. And they’re also fine. The kids don’t whine half as much about the walk as the grown-ups do. If your child is unable to complete a 15-minute walk with an adult’s assistance, in all lighting conditions, they qualify for an IEP and can take the bus. Problem solved.
  - Rob January 11, 2026 (12:35 pm)
    
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    You forgot also did it barefoot in the snow.
- Derp January 6, 2026 (8:47 pm)
  
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  Can I ask a question. What has changed for the drop off area ?
- WS Pedestrian January 7, 2026 (3:31 am)
  
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  Because of cars, right? It sucks to walk your kid to school because its dangerous with all the cars. So you want add to the cars by driving an car instead to protect yourself from cars. Is that accurate?
  - Kyle January 7, 2026 (8:58 am)
    
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    Honestly more the darkness and time. Although would be nice if we had a safety patrol and more crossing guards, maybe you should be one? I try to be as good of an anti-car virtue singer as you but I don’t have time for a dark rainy 30 minute walk with my 5 year old, and then a 20 minute walk home every morning. It’s an expensive city so most households have 2 working parents, probably partly why enrollment is declining. But you go off acting like this is an office building and the needs are the same.
    - Foop January 7, 2026 (9:54 am)
      
      20 minute walk sounds like a mile, not a bad walk, but if time is a concern that’s like 5 minutes for an ebike. And let’s not pretend that driving and dealing with traffic is any faster. I live near chief sealth and just navigating school traffic in the mornings and evenings takes longer than it would to bike in up to the doors. Biggest thing I e learned buying an ebike and driving fewer places is that the convenience of rolling right up to where I am going and being able to hop on and leave beats the parking rigamarole, or fighting late/early busses 100% of the day.
    - Kyle January 7, 2026 (11:28 am)
      
      A 1000+ student high school, where many students drive themselves, is different than an elementary school. Sealth also has a parking lot. Glad you’re ready to fund e-bikes and trailers (can’t imagine a 6 year old handling a heavy e-bike by themselves) for all the elementary school kids and their families!
    - Foop January 7, 2026 (3:58 pm)
      
      Good lord you’re being hyperbolic. E-bikes with with rear seats on the *high end* cost 1/8th what a car costs.a child sized ebike also isn’t heavy, kids don’t need that much assistance and also I don’t know where you grew up but when I was a kid we had bikes and go karts and all kinds of slapped together things and we were just fine. You’re more fragile the the toddlers attending school.
    - Kyle January 7, 2026 (4:57 pm)
      
      Weren’t you doing the same by calling it a “tragedy folks have to walk a few blocks”? You clearly don’t have kids and don’t even know how early elementary school starts in Seattle. Glad to hear you rode go karts at 6 years old back in the day and are so rigid in your anti-car views you can’t imagine others would have different needs.

WS Resident January 6, 2026 (6:56 pm)

Not gonna lie, this is making me wanna make some babies just so I can have them attend the new school.

Bill#1 January 6, 2026 (10:01 pm)

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Well! What are you doing here? – Get to work!

Nw mama January 7, 2026 (4:31 pm)

The school looks beautiful!

WS neighbor January 8, 2026 (10:55 am)

Yikes, this comment section is pretty snarky. Each parent has their own challenges with dropping off/picking up kids at any school. It’s stressful. A little grace and kindness goes a long way.

lafayetteparent January 8, 2026 (11:39 am)

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The people driving their kids to school are the #1 cause of the stress you mention. More often than not, the nastiest drivers who don’t yield in crosswalks, aren’t paying attention and speeding that my family and I encounter walking to school are other parents driving their kids to the same school.

wetone January 8, 2026 (1:20 pm)

Should be interesting to see how the geo-thermal heating works out….. along with the cost and effectiveness ;) does anyone know the true cost of this project compared to original sold to taxpayers cost to be ? Heard from a few it was a wee bit more than anticipated, but haven’t been able to find out any real numbers. Hopefully district can find enough students to justify the build and cost.