Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) is in the process of assessing vacant land and vacant buildings it owns to determine what to keep and what to sell.

The process has generated interest and  concern in some places, notably in South Tacoma.

Since a new Gray Middle School opened, many residents have pondered the fate of the old Gray, which is located adjacent to Edison Elementary School.

Another of the district’s aging buildings is Baker Middle School. The district would like to replace it. Ultimately voters will decide that when they vote on a capital levy next March. If passed, it would fund a new Baker and other projects.

TPS and Metro Parks have been in discussion for some time on a land swap. The district would get Harmon Park, an 8.4-acre parcel upon which it would like to build the future Baker. Metro Parks in return would get 19 acres of district property at the old Gray site.

A group called Friends of Harmon Park recently sent a letter to the district, signed by 14 people, opposing the Baker/Harmon proposal because it would put the school building too close to their homes.

Sometimes neighbors have legitimate concerns about sales of district property. In 2007 TPS sold the former Rogers Elementary School on the East Side to a church. Soon after church members began using the facility to provide food, clothing and other items to low-income individuals, many of them homeless.

Area residents became concerned by these individuals walking through their neighborhood to be served at what they thought was going to be used as a house of worship. Those concerns made their way to Tacoma City Council, leading to some friction between the city and TPS.

School Board members and administrative staff discussed surplus buildings and land during last week’s South Tacoma Neighborhood Council meeting.

A few area residents expressed interest for restoring Gray, perhaps for conversion to residential units or an indoor farmers market.

They were told the latter is unlikely, given that commercial activity is not likely to mesh well with the residential nature of the neighborhood. The building contains asbestos, another factor that would make renovation expensive.

While no final decision has been made, Gray appears likely to be demolished. It needs a new roof, which would cost around $300,000. Plus the district spends $10,000 a month on utilities for a vacant building. Given its financial difficulties, it makes little sense for the district to spend that kind of money on an empty building indefinitely.

However, the neighbors heard from the board and staff that their ideas are important and will be taken into consideration. This was a preliminary, informal discussion with more meetings planned.

If all the cards fall into place, the land swap would be ideal in the long term for students, families and almost anyone else living in South Tacoma.

The community center project has the potential to be a crown jewel of an attraction. A campus bringing together a Boys and Girls Club, playfields and other amenities will greatly improve the quality of life for area residents.

Baker currently has a campus of just more than five acres, far less than the 20 acres considered ideal for middle schools. The land swap would expand the campus, giving students ample space for playfields that could be used by the community during non-school times, such as weekends and in the summer.

Change can be difficult for some to accept, but the board is showing some vision in how it might dispose of surplus property and strengthen its partnerships with other entities.