Crews starting tearing down a 111-year-old school house this week after Pierce County staff mistakenly issued a demolition permit for the historic building, a county spokesperson confirmed Tuesday.
Pierce County’s Planning & Public Works department issued a permit in March to demolish the old Alderton School and adjacent gym at 9512 state Route 162, according to records on the county’s website. This was after the buildings’ owner, Alderton Way LLC, submitted an application for the demolition in February. The News Tribune has reached out to Alderton Way LLC for comment.
A News Tribune visual journalist saw a Pierce County Building and Code Enforcement stop work order posted at the demolition site Tuesday, dated May 19. The notice said a historic preservation officer’s approval was needed. More than half of the Alderton School had already been torn down before the notice was issued. The gym was still standing…