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Skrappy's, the popular music club and social service agency for teens, is about to lose its Downtown space yet again, but it looks like the kids may finally find a better landing spot.

Skrappy's is a bright, vital element in the Downtown scene, adding life, color and diversity. It also provides a safe place for teens to hang out. We hope the new space works out — and if not, that all parties are able to find comparable one — and quickly.

For more than eight years, the youth organization held concerts, art, breakdancing and capoeira classes and other activities at 201 E. Broadway. It was evicted by a new owner in September.

Since then the kids have been parked in the basement of Big Brothers Big Sisters at 160 E. Alameda St., a place too small for their popular concerts and lacking ventilation for art classes, says Kathy Wooldridge, program director. But the Skrappy's Big Brothers Big Sisters lease expires July 31.

Wooldridge said the Skrappy's teens have been searching for space for a long time, and have been turned away often.

"Even though our program has a lot of support morally, most people just don't want us as neighbors," she said earlier this week.

After finding a vacant 17,000-square-foot building at 35 E. Toole Ave., where the concerts and arts classes could resume, they called in the cavalry.

"We called (Richard) Elías (chairman of the county board of supervisors) and he came down and met with the kids. … (City Councilman Steve) Leal has also," she said.

Leal said he and Elias had several meetings with the teens and that the kids have been "shunned and pushed aside." Both men want to see that end with a good home for Skrappy's.

The two toured the Toole property and agree that it's right for Skrappy's. It's a one-story building with a big basement just a half block east of Stone Avenue in the arts warehouse district. Both believe an arrangement can be worked out to get the kids into the space.

"I'm 99 percent sure it's going to happen," said Leal.

Said Elias, "We're committed to getting them in there by the end of July."

The Toole building is owned by the Arizona Department of Transportation, which acquired it along with other properties on both sides of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks to clear the way for an extension of the Barraza-Aviation Parkway to Interstate 10. (Routes under consideration for the extension all lie north of the tracks, so the East Toole building won't be demolished for the new road.)

Next, ADOT gave the city of Tucson an easement for the building, which the city passed along to the Tucson Unified School District, which wanted it for an alternative school, ArtWorks Academy.

ArtWorks Academy has been holding classes at the Tucson Museum of Art's education building and hasn't been using the East Toole space. The TUSD easement expires on Oct. 31, 2010, said district spokeswoman Karen Bynum, and district officials "are working with Steve Leal and looking at the feasibility of letting Skrappy's use the site."

The city is free to let anyone use the space — and if all parties agree, Skrappy's is in, according to Jaret Barr, assistant to the city manager.

Terms involving rent, utilities, insurance would be "up to the elected officials," he said.

Wooldridge is excited, but cautious: "I'm, like, 'Oh please just let it happen.' It's been a long year of networking and hearing, 'No you can't be my neighbor. The kids are, like, 'What do we do that's that bad? We're just noisy.' "

We applaud the work of Leal and Elías, and especially the hard work of the Skrappy's teens on their own behalves.

As we've said in the past, the problem of perception pesters every generation. Piercings, tattoos, wild-colored spiky hair may seem alarming to some, but every generation has tested rebellious styles.

That surly 1980s punk rocker may well be teaching sixth grade today with a trim haircut and crisp polo shirt.

Skrappy's deserves a home in Downtown Tucson. And a good Downtown has to be host to more than candlelit restaurants, symphony performances and memorable theater.

Downtown needs the color and energy of a place like Skrappy's.