The original Beverly Park Elementary School site at 11427 3rd Avenue South is undergoing significant renovations after a possible arson fire severely damaged Southern Heights Elementary School in July.
As we previously reported, a suspicious late-night brush fire burned the former Southern Heights Elementary School in Burien on the morning of July 10, 2024. It destroyed the main office and gymnasium at Southern Heights, prompting school officials to quickly find a new location for students and staff ahead of the 2024-25 school year.
The main office and gym (100 building) are a total loss and are slated to be demolished in the coming weeks.
Southern Heights had been home to two secondary schools – Innovation Heights Academy and Highline Virtual Academy. With the extent of fire and water damage making the Southern Heights campus unusable, a construction crew from Forma Construction has been working seven days a week to renovate the 1950s-era Beverly Park site. The renovations are aimed at ensuring a safe and functional learning environment for students by the first day of school in September.
Renovation work includes cleaning, adding restroom accessibility, painting, installing new flooring, and upgrading electrical and plumbing systems.
Highline Public Schools is working with their insurance company for reimbursement and anticipate that most costs will be covered.
The original Beverly Park site, which has been used in recent years for storage and after-school programs, is being transformed to accommodate both schools. Construction is taking place from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, with some work continuing on Sundays. Renovation efforts are expected to continue into January 2025.
Superintendent Ivan Duran expressed thanks to all who are working hard to renovate the Original Beverly Park Site as well as our neighbors and community:
“We appreciate the support of our neighbors at both sites, our school board and our community as we pivot our facility plans to support our students and staff.”
Let us not forget that Southern Heights School was also the site of a community garden tended by devoted Boulevard Park neighbors. The fire left the garden inaccessible, when it was just getting started.