KPLU Local News
(2010-01-17)
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The MLK Elementary sign and reader board in Seattle's Madison Valley neighborhood. The school closed in 2007, and is for sale.
Gary Davis photo.
The highest bidder is The Bush School. It's been operating in the neighborhood since the 1920's. Frank Magusin heads Bush. On a recent, rainy Friday morning, he points at a small playground in the middle of the private school's campus.
"Later today our kids will be running around on this little turf pitch. If we had that other field, they'd be running around there too."
That 'other field' is just beyond the Bush property, an adjacent 2 acres that is the former MLK Elementary. Bush School wants to buy it and tear down the former public school building. In its place they'll build athletic fields. Right now Bush students have to travel across the city to find adequate outdoor practice sites. Magusin says the MLK property is just about perfect.
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Down the street, members of the Guttman family have a different vision. For 6 year-old Mia, the neighborhood playground she once could to use now looks pretty sad.
"It's playgrounds that are fenced off and the lights are off."
Her mom, Ilana Guttman, doesn't buy into the Bush Schools vision. She supports the efforts of neighbors who want to buy the school and create a community center, keeping the building and the playgrounds open to the public.
"Without it, there is no space, indoor or outdoor, for kids in the neighborhood to play." To get to the nearest playground, the Guttman's have to drive there.
The Citizens for a Community Center at MLK have a lot of community support but are in a tough battle. They face bids from two private schools, Bush and Hamlin Robinson, a south Seattle school looking to expand.
The other contender is Seattle's historically African American First AME Church. Pastor Carey Anderson sees a mix of public uses for the site, including consolidation of the church's youth and education programs. Anderson says their bid has neighborhood history on its side.
"Originally that was an area where African Americans lived. We would put that site to good use."
The heavyweight in the contest appears to be the Bush School, with its high bid of $3.75 million. Head of School Frank Magusin says he understands the community concerns about public property being sold to a private entity. So if they win the bid, he says Bush would open up their playfields to the public when the school isn't using them.
"Our hope is that it would get a lot of community use, particularly by youth soccer and youth baseball teams."
That still doesn't sway neighbor Ilana Guttman, who says the issue is about civic values.
"By taking away all of the public spaces in a given neighborhood I think by definition you rob the neighborhood of its identity."
The school board does not have to accept the highest bidder. With budgets in the red, it may be tough to make any other decision. The fate of the MLK school could be settled by spring. Gary Davis, KPLU News, in Seattle's Madison Valley.
For More Information:
MLK Site Bid Information (Seattle School District Link)
Request For Proposal Information, Requirements (Sea Sch. Dist.)
Central District News story on the four bids
The Four Bidders websites:
Citzens For A Community Center @ MLK, Jr.
First AME Church - Seattle
The Bush School
Hamlin Robinson School
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