Old Denny site at issue in Westwood

With the ball already rolling on construction of a new Denny Middle School, Westwood Neighborhood Council members hope they can make their voices heard regarding future plans for the old school site.

The eventual use of the Denny property, once it is demolished and removed in 2011, has caused concern in the Westwood community. Several say the Seattle School District has again not been open to including them in the planning process.

"We feel like we've been burnt by the school district," said Steve Fischer, president of the Westwood Neighborhood Council.

Taking money out of their own pockets the Westwood residents hired a graphic parks designer to help them come up with a conceptual master plan. They used ideas originally for a $15,000 city Department of Neighborhoods matching fund grant they had applied for in the fall of 2007 but eventually was denied.

As owners of the Denny site, the school district was asked to give a letter of approval for the grant. Initially they wrote the approval letter, but soon the Westwood council received a letter from the city informing them that their grant was being pulled because the school district withdrew its support.

When asked why, Eleanor Trainor, capital projects community liaison for the district, said there was a miscommunication of what the grant actually entailed.

She said the grant was asking for more control over the project than they had expected and it was a project the school district, as property owners, wanted to lead.

"The district may have overreacted over only a conceptualization (and) not an actual construction plan for the Denny site," said Fischer. "What the design shows is a conceptualized idea of what could be, not that the Westwood Neighborhood Council is married to that proposal but it's a concept for the community to look at and react to, it's a starting point."

In response, the district asked to make a presentation at the July Westwood Neighborhood Council. What was scheduled to only be a 10-minute presentation of the new Denny/Sealth site plan became an hour and a half discussion to reassure Westwood community members of the school's design along with how the community and students would benefit from the co-location of the schools.

Fischer again presented Westwood's vision for the old Denny site which included replacement softball fields and tennis courts, an informal amphitheater, potential community center expansion, small off-leash area, bike and pedestrian access to Longfellow Creek Trail, increase in walk-ways between playfields and a skate area where the old teen center use to reside.

Following the presentation and brainstorming of used for the former building site, Don Gillmore, program manager for the school district, said the district later would examine the site to see what they can and cannot do. He said the district hopes to involve the parks, district departments and community members.

"Their (school district) reaction was disappointing," said Fischer. "The underlying feeling was that they were very dismissive at the community's actions.

"What we heard was that you can have any meeting you want but what will really matter is ours (the school district's). We found that to be offensive and we offered to have a joint meeting but that was dismissed by Don Gillmore. We feel our concerns are ignored and they'll do whatever they want."

Westwood folks only hope that the old Denny site will become an area with lots of green space that will be both community and school district friendly and useful.

"It's not a matter of contention," said community activist Susan Harmon. "It's the idea of really creating something for the kids. If they don't feel ownership in the community they won't feel a part of the community."

Gillmore says the district hopes to build a recreational area and will be taking the lead in design for the $5 million improvements that will be made at the site.

"Input will be great but we still will look at what is in the best interest for the students," Gillmore said. "The school district may use the area for a future school in maybe 10 to 30 years, who knows. The Denny site is in the school district's possession until 2011 which we will then re-evaluate."

The school district will begin planning for the designing process in September when they hope to find long and short terms needs and solutions for the site.

"I hope neighborhood members will participate, and the Westwood neighborhood's design is what we'd like to see," Gillmore said.

Westwood found support for their design from Deputy Superintendent, Chris Williams of Seattle Parks and Recreation and Council Member Tom Rasmussen who both attended their June Presentation.

"We're trying to get political support so we can ensure that the district will listen to the community," said Fischer. "You would think that in the last year and a half that the district would have learned something about involving the community but they are back to their same old game of totally disregarding the wants of the community and surrounding neighbors.

The Westwood Neighborhood Council will meet again August 12 at 7 p.m. at the Southwest Precinct to further discuss the future plans for the old Denny site. West Seattle School Board member, Steven Sundquist, Seattle parks Superintendent Tim Gallagher and Southwest Precinct Captain Joe Kessler will be invited to attend.

Allison Espiritu may be reached at 783.1244 or allisone@robinsonnews.com.