Fauntleroy Schoolhouse terms: Community reaction

| Neighborhoods | West Seattle history | West Seattle news

We reported last night that the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency has reached agreement on a “term sheet” for purchase of the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse and some of the property around it, months after opening negotiations with Seattle Public Schools, which is selling the property as surplus; FCSA’s Kevin Wooley had told WSB just last week that they weren’t currently negotiating for the entire site (see that report here). Tonight, we have some reaction to the announcement – read on:

First: The Fauntleroy Community Association will discuss this new development at its monthly meeting next week, 7 pm at the schoolhouse. We asked FCA president Bruce Butterfield for his comments today, and they are as follows:

I’m happy to hear the FCSA, (Fauntleroy Community Service Agency), has
an agreement with Seattle Schools to purchase the Fauntleroy School
building. The FCSA has been the master tenant in the building for
almost 30 years. The building houses the Fauntleroy Children’s Center,
Seattle Civic Dance Theatre and Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering which
includes The Hall at Fauntleroy. Maintaining the building with its
community based businesses has been an important goal heard from members
of the community at public meetings.

While it would be nice for the FCSA to purchase the entire parcel it
would take longer than the school district wants to wait to acquire
funds for the whole purchase. This will allow the FCSA to work on
restoration of the building and be able to attract more long term
tenants.

From a community standpoint I hope this is a first step and perhaps the
FCSA can locate West Seattle community members to group together and
eventually buy the back part of the property, so there may be some
control over development there, rather than a developer cramming in as
many units as they can get permitted for.

Also commenting tonight, Fauntleroy’s Kim Petram, who describes the announcement as good news for Fauntleroy Children’s Center, but “dire news” for Fauntleroy citizens:

I respectfully have the following concerns.
By not including the entire lot in the purchase agreement the Fauntleroy community has now lost all power and leverage regarding future developement of the back lot.

The Fauntleroy community is at the mercy of a reactionary school board who will doubtlessly relent to the perceived easiest choice and will sell this lot to the highest bidder. This generates great concern as, most likely, the highest bidder will be a developer. Based on city, county and state response thus far, this developer will be allowed to build on the lot based only on their financial gain which will be to the detriment of this community.

As I have expressed before, I do not agree with this partial purchase. By neglecting to take advantage of this economic time and continue in negotiation with the school board to purchase the entire site the community will now be at great disadvantage.

As a community member I would like to know what the 1 year, 5 year and 10 year plans are for purchase of the entire site. This should be public information. As well, what protections are in place to enhance and support the existing tenants? Tuxedo and Tennis Shoes is the largest contributor to the community and is greatly civic minded.

I think the FCSA board requires additional membership from community members as well as members well versed in financial planning.

What assurances can be made with sound backing that the Fauntleroy community will not be worse off by this current purchase?

As many of you know, I am an active supporter of this community and I am highly involved in the sustainability and enhancement of this historic area. I do not think I am the only person who has these concerns.

Again, the next public meeting at which this will be discussed is the monthly FCA meeting next Tuesday – 7 pm at the schoolhouse; the FCA’s website is fauntleroy.net. And before any deal is finalized, school board approval is required, and public hearings will be held; we’ll of course keep you updated on future steps in the process.

Sandra October 9, 2008 (8:03 pm)

How exciting! This seems like a great first step in securing the schoolhouse for its current community-enhancing purpose. Our family is thrilled at this news!

Martha October 10, 2008 (5:40 am)

A grateful and relieved FCC and SCDT parent writes:
Congratulations to the FCSA Board for your YEARS of hard work on this effort and your success! I know you have had many late nights working through all of these negotiations, and the amount of time and energy you have put in to get us thus far is mind boggling (thousands of hours?) Thank you so much! If it was up to the school district, the building would be sold already to developers, so thank you so much for your hard work to preserve the historic integrity of this precious area, the heart of Fauntleroy! I know that you have the entire Fauntleroy community in mind as you seek to preserve this amazing building and the space around it. I appreciate that you are planning to work hard in your continued negotiations and discussions to make sure that the remaining parcel of land which is not included in the deal will only be developed in a way that is positive for the Fauntleroy community. I’m looking forward to celebrating this good news at the Fauntleroy Fall Festival on Sunday, October 19th!
My hat is off to you all!

marty October 10, 2008 (9:44 am)

I would like to see the balance sheets for Tux and Tennis Shoes. They benefit from the fact that the Fauntleroy Church has more weddings than any church in Seattle and the hall at the school is the only large venue in the area for receptions.
I have nothing against the business, I just want to see that they are not making excess profits because they are not paying market prices for the hall.

Denny October 10, 2008 (3:14 pm)

Marty – you are nuts if you think there’s a sweetheart deal in here somewhere – that’s an old drafty building that requires a TON of investment just to keep open. And the district hasn’t done much since pulling it offline, improvements have been made by tenants.
I often enjoy T&T’s digs for community gatherings. They are quite competitive in their prices, and generous to the community, despite being in a very difficult business. Although I know nothing of their specific rent, their costs to operate are likely no better/worse than any others.

marty October 10, 2008 (4:51 pm)

Denny – You say “You are nuts if tou think there’s a sweatheart deal in here somewhere” and then you say “I know nothing of their specific rent”. Well I also know nothing of their specific rent and that is what I am requesting! A low rent, high profit situation would be nothing less than stealing from the public. I believe we all have a right to know that a fair price is being paid.

Kim Sheridan October 14, 2008 (4:27 pm)

In response to some of the concerns shared I want to respond to our friends and supporters in the community. I do not think The Fauntleroy Community Service Agency, our Board of Directors, would do anything that would jeopardize the community or place it in dire straits; however, I certainly understand the hope that the entire school property would be part of this purchase agreement and a “done deal”. Every time I look at the school playground I think, we are not finished yet, just moving in the right direction. This is a fantastic first step!

You are right that this is good news for the Children’s Center. We have great cause to celebrate. Our 120 families are breathing a huge sigh of relief to know that their child care situation is secure. All 31 of the teachers and 4 support and administrative staff are greatly relieved to know we will continue to have the opportunity to serve families in our community and to have jobs here.

I know that Miss Kim from Seattle Civic Dance Theatre is delighted to know the Fauntleroy School will still be the home of her dance school. I assume the families she serves also feel relieved.

Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes is another huge asset to the community. They are also very happy to know the school building will remain home to their business. I can’t imagine how many people, including staff and clients, are positively impacted by their ability to remain here.

I think with all of the craziness, sadness and fear going on in the world these days, this progress on the school purchase is really something about which to be grateful and excited. I know we are by no means finished with this project! There is an incredible amount of work that this beautiful building needs and yes, we also want to raise money to buy the rest of the playground and property. To get to this point, it has taken an incredible amount of work and negotiation on the part of our Board, all volunteers who are members of this community.

I don’t see this step as dire news for the community. I see it as evidence of the great things this community can and does accomplish. It may be a slow, discouraging process at times, but it is just that, a process, and I am confident more hard work will follow and more good things will come. I hope as time goes on you will feel better about this step as an accomplishment for our community. See you at the Fall Festival!

Thank you,

Kim Sheridan
Director
Fauntleroy Children’s Center

Sorry, comment time is over.