Tacoma Schools finds buyer for Willie Stewart Academy complex. Here’s what it may be

The former site of Willie Stewart Academy has a potential buyer.

The two-building Tacoma Public Schools property, at 1818 Tacoma Ave. S., was listed on Jan. 3 for $1.39 million and received three offers.

Ferguson Architecture, a Tacoma-based studio, had the highest monetary offer, according to Josh Jorgensen, TPS associate project manager strategic operations.

Jorgensen said the firm also offered the highest community benefit.

The other two offers came from P&S Co., LLC, of Lakewood, and Pleasant Acres LLC, of Vancouver, Wa.

Tacoma Public Schools determined the Willie Stewart Academy building to be surplus, and the school board authorized the sale last summer.

The board will hold a public hearing at 6 p.m. on April 13 at the district’s office at 601 South 8th Street on the fourth floor. Written public comment can also be submitted to Tacoma Public Schools, ℅ Josh Jorgensen, 3223 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98408 or by email to planning@tacoma.k12.wa.us.

The school board will need to approve the sale of the property, which has a 6,000 square-foot building with frontage along Tacoma Avenue South and a 1,500 square-foot garage. The school was built in 1919 and was renovated in 1975.

The entire parcel is 19,000 square feet. It has 11 parking spaces and all utilities are available. The property is zoned downtown residential.

The school district can’t accept less than 90 percent of the listing price.

Jorgensen said Ferguson plans to use it as office space.

He said there is no formal timeline of the sale.

The former school was boarded up for security, Jorgenson said.

Willie Stewart Academy students and staff moved to the ground floor of the 908 Broadway building in downtown Tacoma on Feb. 3.

Willie Stewart Academy offers an individualized approach for students ages 17 to 21 to earn their diploma, according to Tacoma Public Schools. The school was named after Tacoma Public School District’s first Black principal. There are 184 students enrolled.

The newly renovated downtown building is shared with Tacoma Online, Tacoma School of the Arts and TPS Career and Technical Education team. The renovations included classrooms, student gathering areas, offices, meeting rooms, restrooms and a staff break room and kitchen. The project is funded by the $535 million school construction bond voters approved in 2020.

Willie Stewart Academy will have more renovations this summer at the south end of the bottom floor.