University Heights Community Center and the Phinney Neighborhood Center (PNC) share similar stories: Both were discontinued as public school buildings in the 1980s, leased by community associations, determined as surplus by the Seattle School District and are now up for sale. Both current tenants are currently negotiating to buy the respective sites.On April 16 and 17 the University Heights Center Community Association (UHCCA) and Phinney Neighborhood Association (PNA) respectively held forums for community members to present their opinions on the school district's sale of the buildings.A majority of the attendees approved and were excited about the sale."My main message is please, please, please be behind this," said Christine Buck, a North Seattle real estate agent."It's become really clear the community wants this center to be here and supports it and loves it," UHCCA president Mike Dash said.DIFFERING OPINIONS, SHARED VISIONAlexa Crawford's children have attended music lessons at the PNC. She said ownership of the building would allow the PNA to be more successful at fund raising. Donors do not give as much money because the school district owns the building, she said; once the PNA is in ownership it can start raising money for elevators, wheelchair access, playgrounds and entryways.However, there were several reservations about the sale of the buildings.The school district would require the community associations to maintain the current use and vision of the buildings for 15 years. After that time period, the buildings can be sold or transferred to a different purpose.Chris Jackins, coordinator of the Seattle Committee to Save Schools, said 15 years is brief in terms of the school district's timeline. He regrets the privatization of public properties. He said Seattle Public Schools has an obligation to the community to maintain the buildings; it should pay for the elevators and maintenance fees.Jim Irish, a certified general appraiser, contends the optional sale in 15 years is legitimate, but said there should be a profit-sharing arrangement in the deal. Irish said if and when PNA sells the property, a sum of that profit should go back to public schools and its students.For Laurie McGuire, University Heights should be returned to the children. With 38 families on a waiting list for nearby Bryant Elementary School, another elementary school in the area would provide accessible education for local families."It would revitalize the area if there was an elementary [school] on The Ave," McGuire said.BUILDING COSTSJim Rogers, vice president of UHCCA, said the cost of updating the building for public-school standards would be at least $10 million, not including seismic safety. Currently, the University Heights building is heated by the original boiler, dating from the early 1900s.Both the UHCCA and PNA will organize capital campaigns to purchase the buildings. The exact costs are currently being negotiated, and appraisals are being withheld from the public to encourage the lowest price possible from the school district.Judith Wood, volunteer program director for PNA, said day-to-day maintenance and upkeep should be factored into the price of the PNC buildings.The shared vision between UHCCA and PNA with the school district will also be a factor in the negotiated price, according to the district's property manager Ron English.'TIP OF THE PYRAMID'Plans are for a deal to be signed by June. Dash said the community forum was just "the tip of the pyramid" of more than 20 years of planning and negotiations since the UHCCA moved into University Heights.The meetings are not the only opportunity for community members to comment. E-mail discussion topics to boardagenda@seattleschools.org, or call the school board at 252-0040.[[In-content Ad]]
