Investigation underway after fire at former Gault Middle School

TACOMA, Wash. — Tacoma firefighters are investigating what caused a fire to erupt at the former Gault Middle School on Monday afternoon.

Tacoma Public Schools owns the school property located in the 1100 block of East Division Lane.

Firefighters said they were able to put out the fire quickly.

No injuries were reported.

The school district is currently in the planning process of redeveloping the 7.3-acre campus. Three proposals have been submitted.

Below are the three proposals being debated as reported by The News Tribune:

▪ Chaffey Building Group proposed workforce and market-rate housing and an urban-infill small retail center. The property would include 50-plus market-rate and workforce apartment units, with a mix of for-rent and for-sale residential units. The urban village could include neighborhood shops, like coffee shops, small gyms, a restaurant, a bar and a small grocer. Chaffey Building Group plans to add a neighborhood square for farmers markets and other gatherings.

▪ Sager Family Homes wants to redevelop the existing schoolhouse into a community center, similar to the Youngstown Cultural Arts Center in Seattle’s Delridge neighborhood. It will include 60 to 80 townhomes and detached single-family units, with a portion of units for low-income households. Sager’s proposal states “housing for families of differing incomes and needs will be at the heart of the redevelopment.” The school building would be owned through a cooperative model stewarded by the local community land trust model, according to the developer’s plans.

▪ Southport Financial Services plans to donate the property to Anchor Church to redevelop it into a church and community center. Its three-phase approach would include exterior improvements to make the building safe and secure, renovating the building’s auditorium, gymnasium, bathrooms, lobby space and 4-5 classrooms to be used for church functions and partnering with nonprofits and government organizations for final renovations. Southport also plans to develop 120-150 deed-restricted, energy-efficient, sustainably built housing units, which would serve low-income individuals and families. The developers have indicated a potential partnership with The Hopes and Dreams Foundation to have after-school classes, childcare and counseling services.

The recommended proposal will be announced June 30.

Since its closure more than a decade ago, Gault Middle School has attracted vandalism, litter and property damage during its vacancy.

Information from The News Tribune was used in this report.

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