Spruce Street has been educating Seattle city kids for decades (Image: Spruce Street School)
The school’s future Madison home (Image: Spruce Street School)
By Matt Dowell
The private Spruce Street School is building its future on First Hill in the midst of the neighborhood’s mix of hospitals, medical facilities, and high-rise apartment towers.
The $35,000-a-year school of about 110 K-5th graders purchased the building in 2019 for $15.15 million as part of a long term plan to make it their โforever home.โ This summer, the school applied for a construction permit to begin a $7 million renovation of the Madison at Summit building, though they donโt plan to relocate from their current address at 914 Virginia Street on the edges of South Lake Union and downtown until 2028.
School officials declined to comment on the project.
“By 2035, Spruce Street School will be the highest quality, most financially accessible Kโ5 independent school of its kind in the Seattle area โ able to admit children who would thrive in our educational program and community, regardless of their familiesโ ability to pay,” the school says of its future. “In addition, we will continue to be distinguished for our unique program and excellent teachers.”
The urban campus will include the 20,000-square-foot classroom building plus the building’s roof which is planned to be developed as an outdoor play area and a massive underground parking lot.
The permit states that work will occur on all three levels of the property, which is currently home to Salal Credit Union and ATI Physical Therapy, plus another school, Seattle Academy. Continue reading
