West Queen Anne Elementary School

Address: 515 West Galer Street
Date Built: 1896, with additions in 1902 and 1916
Original Architect/Builder: Skillings and Corner; Edgar Blair.
Original Owners: Seattle Public School District.
Description: Romanesque dark brick two-story building with a steep roof line and tall arched windows.

 

Historic Seattle's Role:

West Queen Anne Elementary School / Historic Seattle Archives

Declining enrollment forced the district to close this school in the spring of 1981. In early 1983, a lease/option agreement was negotiated between Historic Seattle and the Seattle School Board, whereby the property would be acquired under a long-term lease from the school district. The term of the lease, 99 years, includes an option to renew for another 99 years. After adding protective covenants so that the school would be preserved in perpetuity, Historic Seattle conveyed its option to acquire the building to West Queen Anne Associates.

Renovation to the building began on October 17, 1983 and was completed in the fall of 1984. The project created 49 condominium units, both one and two story ranging from 600 to 2,500 square feet. Val Thomas was project architect.

Current and Future Uses:

West Queen Anne Elementary School / Photo: Marissa Natkin

West Queen Anne Elementary School continues to be used as condominiums, and serves as an excellent example of adaptive reuse of a school building.
It gained City of Seattle Landmark status on January 17, 1977, (Ord. #106146).