The Old Elementary School: A Possible Reason to Stay the Execution?

Ketchikan had an old school too. White Cliff School. It stood vacant through 4 years and many studies before a solution was found.

In 2008, the Ketchikan Gateway Borough offered the property for sale. Dawson Construction bought it for $500,000 with the agreement that the Borough would rent half of the building for new offices. Part of the purchase agreement was that the Borough would attempt to purchase the building back from Dawson within a two-year period for $9.47 million. It all worked out. Dawson opened the building in January 2009. The Borough and other entities rented space; and ultimately the Borough found the money to re-purchase the building.

There might be something in the White Cliff School solution that would work for Haines. It's not too late to consider the possibility of partnering with the private sector to save an asset, create jobs, and move forward with the concept of a community center. If no private entity steps up, we will lose time, perhaps some money due to inflation, but not necessarily momentum.

However, time is definitely running out for the old Haines Elementary School. Demolition was stayed 10 days due to a glitch in obtaining all the required permits. But the contractor is ready to start work this coming Friday. The last chance to appeal to the Assembly to stay the contract for demolition is this Tuesday's (October 25) Assembly meeting during Public Comments.

Explore the White Cliff School story here.