A sale is pending for the Vashon Youth &Family Services Playspace building, which was recently put back on the market after those hoping to purchase it to use as a teen center determined they did not have the funds to do so.

Listing agent Sophia de Groen Stendahl said she could not name the potential buyer, but indicated that all parties are pleased.

“It will be a good fit for VYFS and the community,” she said.

VYFS Executive Director Kathleen Johnson said she could not comment yet either, but agreed with Stendahl’s positive assessment.

The Playspace is home to a variety of programs for families with children from newborn to age 6. VYFS has owned the building since it purchased it from the YMCA, with financial support from the community and a $200,000 credit from the YMCA, in 2011.

VYFS first put the building on the market in February and sent a letter to donors who helped with the purchase and renovation of the building, informing them of the decision.

“The agency must sell the building if it is to be able to continue to support needed programming — including early childhood prevention,” Johnson wrote at the time.

Shortly afterward, Michele and Jim McBride attempted to purchase the building for use as a youth center. Their funding hopes, via community support, were not realized, however, and the building returned to the open market early this month.

Since then, some islanders have expressed frustration with the manner in which the building is being sold now, as YMCA officials’ intent when they sold it six years ago was to ensure that the building would remain a community asset. Allison Shirk is among those raising concerns. She was contracted with VYFS as a grant writer at the time of the YMCA sale and helped VYFS raise funds to purchase the building. She noted she values VYFS, but she feels the community should have been provided with an opportunity to make a decision about what to do with the building because of their previous contributions and the YMCA’s intent.

“There was not enough opportunity for community groups to get together and have a discussion about it. No one that I know has $500,000 to lay down without a plan in place,” she said. “A community effort takes time. That opportunity was not given to us.”

Asked to respond to those concerns, Johnson referred people back to the letter she sent donors, which provided information on funding cutbacks of recent years and the board’s determination that selling the building was regrettable but essential.

— Susan Riemer