Martin Luther King, Jr. Elementary School has been a hub of the Madison Valley community in Seattle for nearly one hundred years. After the Seattle School District closed the school in 2007, a neighborhood group came together to create a vision and plan for a self-sustaining community center at the former school. We have no gathering space, no play area, no community hub in our neighborhood (view "why a center" pdf document by clicking here). A network of neighbors is working to create a Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in the tradition of such schools-turned-centers as Phinney, University Heights, Crown Hill, and Youngstown.
OUR MISSION
Citizens for a Community Center at M.L.King (CCC@MLK) is a group of citizens from the Central Area community and Madison Valley neighborhood working together to establish a community center, at M.L. King Jr. Elementary School, to serve community youths, families and life-long learners. The center will honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy by promoting interaction, growth and exchange between people of diverse ages, socio-economic backgrounds and cultures.
CREATING A VIBRANT CENTER AT A CLOSED SCHOOL
CCC@MLK has assembled a plan for a vibrant community center at the former MLK school. Initial plans call for a phased renovation of the school, which was originally built in 1913 and later expanded substantially in 1958. With the support of a Department of Neighborhoods grant, CCC@MLK has contracted with Environmental Works to conduct a feasibility study of the building and property.
Working with fiscal sponsorship from the Greater Madison Valley Community Council, CCC@MLK’s eight-member steering committee has proposed a plan to the School Board that would include:
· dance studio with classes and programming through Spectrum Dance Theater
· a community “living room” with computer workstations, job skills and business start-up materials and comfortable seating
· community kitchen and common meeting rooms
· a 125-seat performing arts stage
· day care, preschool, or before- and after-school facilities
· public playground; indoor and outdoor recreation space
· rental offices for nonprofits and local organizations
Through rentals and partnerships, CCC@MLK envisions a range of programming at the center, with an emphasis on lifelong learning and development. Programs would serve people of all ages, economic levels and cultural backgrounds. Our partners include Spectrum Dance Theatre, African American Veterans Group of WA State, Mitchell's House, Herndon Alliance, Creative Beginnings Preschool & Childcare, and Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association. Supporters include State Senator Kline, City Council President Conlin, Madison Valley Merchants Association, and Seward Park Clay Studio. 
You can see a sample "week in the life" of a center participant by viewing our pdf document here. You can read more on our plan and read our full proposal for the property.
CCC@MLK is a registered non-profit with the state of Washington.
WHAT'S HAPPENING NOW?
In December 2008, the City of Seattle’s Department of Neighborhoods completed its School Use Advisory Committee process for MLKing Jr. Elementary School. This 7-member board of community members, city and school officials took public comments and created a report outlining what uses would be allowable at the former school, one of them being a community center. The
governor’s 2009 capital budget includes $1.1 million for conversion of
MLK Jr. Elementary School to community use through the Department of
Community, Trade and Economic Development. In addition, City Council
President Richard Conlin has written a letter of support for the
project and the City has indicated potential funding support for
purchasing the school for community center use.
On October 15, 2009 the Seattle School District accepted proposals for lease or purchase of the property under its Request for Proposals (RFP) process. We expect the Board to vote on the proposals early in 2010. CCC@MLK submitted a proposal to the School Board, and the District invited us to submit an addendum on 12/1/09. Four entities are vying for the property: The Bush School, Hamlin-Robinson School, First A.M.E. Church, and CCC@MLK. You can review all the prospoals and addendums at the Seattle School Distirct site.
In January 2010, the School Distirct's Selection Committee released their draft report summarizing the proposals on Dec. 28th and presented it to the School Board in a workshop session on Jan. 6th. We are very concerned that there are many misleading and inaccurate statements in that draft report to encourage the Board to support the highest bid and rule out any special consideration for entities providing youth programming or social services. CCC@MLK has submitted a rebuttal to the Board via the Ron English, Seattle Public Schools Deputy General Counsel and Property Manager and Selection Committee. We also submitted several supporting documents, including a letter from Rep. McDermott voicing his support for VSO at the Center, documentation of the current VSO office (two documents: Business license and registered agent letter), School District Rental Rates to further show our rates are comparable, letter to Dept. of Planning confirming needed move-in date of 8/2010, and letter regarding Parks & Rec staffing.
We expect the Board to vote some time early in 2010, and are calling on citizens to contact the Board to voice support for our plan and concern over the misrepresentation in the draft report.
