Correspondence between the Building Department and School District.

 Several letters were written between the School District and Building Department following this initial letter from the City of Seattle's Department of Buildings. I have retyped several here.

March 12, 1975

1) Pacific School, 1114 East Jefferson Street

2) Greenlake School, 2400 North 65th Street

Mr. J. Loren Troxel

Superintendent of Schools

815 – 4th Avenue North

Seattle, Washington 98109

Dear Sir:

A structural inspection of the older building on the referenced

sites was made January 30, 1975. The inspections were made in

response to a petition signed by concerned parents of children

enrolled in these schools.

The Greenlake School building, built in 1901, 1903, and 1905,

was found to be structurally sound. All the buildings on this

site appear to be structurally adequate and well maintained.

However, the older 3 story building is not recommended for

handicapped students.

The 3 story Pacific School building, built in 1893 (with 1912

addition) was found to have several serious structural defects.

A fire in 1966 destroyed the roof and damaged portions of the

third floor. A temporary roof was installed to restore the

building to use as quickly as possible approximately nine years

ago. It is doubtful that the building in its present state could

withstand the force of a moderate earthquake.

It is recommended that the structure above the third floor be

removed and all masonry walls be fastened to the new roof and to

the floor systems of the building to provide for resistance to

lateral forces or the building should be torn down.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact

Mr. Dave Walton, Seattle Building Department, 5th floor

Municipal Building, 583-6843.

Very truly yours,

ALFRED PETTY, P.E.

Superintendent of Buildings.

DW: me

In response, J. Loren Troxel wrote this letter (retyped from an original held by the Seattle Public Schools Archives):

April 16, 1975

Alfred Petty, P.E. Superintendent

City of Seattle, Department of Buildings

Seattle Municipal Building

600 Fourth Avenue

Seattle, Washington 98104

Dear Mr. Petty: 

Your recent correspondence indicates that the Seattle Building Department has inspected the Green Lake and Pacific School buildings. Evidently, your principal concern relates to the structural adequacy of the older portions of the Pacific School building.

School District records indicate that fire damage restoration was accomplished in 1966 and 1967 in accordance with three permits which were issued by the Seattle Building Department. It was the District's intent at that time to utilize this building until such time that decisions could be made relative to major restoration or replacement.

The District has initiated planning for a new Handicapped Center and this item was included in the November 5, 1974, Bond Issue of $35,300,000. As you know, that Bond Issue failed. Planning for a Handicapped facility is continuing and construction of a new facility will be dependent on funding from a future Bond Issue.

At this point, we are unclear regarding the intent of your correspondence. Does your recent inspection now classify this building as unsafe as defined in the Seattle Building Code, and, if so, at what point in time is it required that this building be vacated? An early response to this question would be appreciated since the District must begin immediately to identify other temporary housing alternatives for the Pacific program if this building cannot be used next year.

Sincerely yours,

J. Loren Troxel

Superintendent

JLT: ch

In response, the Department of Buildings sent the School District the following letter (retyped from a letter in the Microfilm library of the Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections.)

April 25, 1975

Pacific School

Mr. J. Loren Troxel

Superintendent

Seattle Public Schools

Administrative and Service Center

815 Fourth Avenue North

Seattle, Washington 98109

Dear Mr. Troxel:

This is to clarify our letter regarding the structural condition

of the Pacific School building. It was our intent in that letter

to call to your attention that the repairs made to the building

in 1966 and 1967 were temporary in nature and that major

rehabilitation was required to make the building reasonably safe

from snow and earthquake forces. We had hoped that the school

district would have a funded program for replacement, in which

case we could talk about interim measures that might be

reasonably consistent with the district’s time frame for solving

the problem. Since the district does not have a definite plan to

correct the building, we must now direct the district to vacate

the building or repair it to a reasonable degree of safety prior

to the beginning of the fall term.

If you wish to discuss the matter further, we would be most

happy to talk it over with you or your representatives and

explore any alternatives that appear feasible.

Very truly yours,

ALFRED PETTY, P.E.

Superintendent of Buildings

AP:lgr

Cc: Mayor Wes Uhlman

Superintendent Troxel requested the ability to occupy Pacific until the end of the year, and was met with this reply:

July 18, 1975

Mr. Loren Troxel

Superintendent

Seattle Public Schools

Administrative and Service Center

815 Fourth Avenue North

Seattle, Washington 98109

Attention: Mr. Walter E. Larsen
Director of Business and Plant

Dear Sir:

We have received your request to continue operation of the Pacific School until December 31, 1975 in order that the necessary remodeling can be done at  Garfield A and Garfield B schools to receive children from Pacific School.

We appreciate the time constraints you are under in finding a solution to this problem, particularly in view of lack of alternatives available. We will therefore extend our approval to continue the occupation of the present Pacific site until December 31, 1975. Under no consideration, however, can we permit the occupancy of the facility beyond that time.

It is our understanding that when Pacific School has been vacated the present Pacific School site will be sold. We would request that as condition of sale, the Pacific School building in question be demolished or repaired.

Thank you for your cooperation in finding a solution to this matter.

Very truly yours,

Alfred Petty, P.E.

Superintendent of Buildings

AP:pn

cc: Mayor Uhlman.