City, School Board Look at Land Swap

The City of Redondo Beach and the are in preliminary discussions to conduct a series of real estate transactions and exchanges that would provide extra revenue for the school district, while giving the city additional land for several developmental projects.

Although no official agreements have been signed, the city and school district have developed a non-binding memorandum of understanding between the two parties in which two key points are outlined.

The first point revolves around the city 's desire to purchase the school district property at 3401 Inglewood Ave.—formerly the Edison School site and the current home of the —with a $700,000 down payment and ongoing payments that are yet to be determined.

The second point focuses on the school district's willingness to exchange its property at 200 N. Pacific Coast Hwy., currently the 's detective bureau, for the city property located at 801 Inglewood Ave., formerly the Franklin School site and currently a community center, preschool, and home to the .

If the deal is finalized, the city plans to focus namely on the construction of a new police station at 200 N. Pacific Coast Hwy. and the possible construction of affordable housing at the former Edison School site, according to assistant city manager Pete Grant.

The South Bay Adult School would move to 801 Inglewood Ave., which would also remain as a community facility.

With the possible elimination of redevelopment agencies across the state under recent state budget proposals, the city is looking to use Redevelopment Agency funds while they still exist.

"[The state] basically said that if redevelopment agencies want to continue to do what the things that they're authorized to do—which is promote economic development and affordable housing—cities have to pay them money," Grant said of the state proposals. "Or, [the state] would shut them down."

The proposed affordable housing project would also help the city reach state housing requirements.

"This is a deal that has great upside for everybody involved," Grant said. "It helps put money into our schools when we need it the most, it helps us get a police station that we’re in desperate need of, and it helps us comply with state laws to provide affordable housing."

Grant elaborated on the three central goals that the proposed "land swap" agreement would hope to achieve, from the viewpoint of the school district and of the city.

"From the city's perspective, one goal is securing a site for a new police station," Grant said. "The existing station is really worn out, borderline obsolete, and in dire need of replacement in the next decade or so."

Grant also mentioned the budget issues currently affecting school districts across the state, commenting that the proposed agreement would assist in supporting RBUSD financially.

“Assuming this all comes together, it would create an ongoing revenue source for the school district at a time that their budget is under more pressure and threats from the economy and the state than it ever has been,” Grant said.

Lastly, Grant pointed to the fact that the school district, in addition to extra revenue, would also receive extra property.

“It also lets the school district get back a piece of property that the city currently leases from it, and that’s the Franklin site,” Grant said. “They have uses planned for that I believe.”

Janet Redella, chief business official for RBUSD, commented that although nothing is firm as of yet, the land swap would receive support from both parties as long as both the city and school district see significant benefits; however, she called the talks "conceptual."

"There's nothing that's firm about any of this," she said. "We haven't even put anything into writing. We haven't committed to anything yet. These are just concepts about how we can make this all work."

Redella also commented that these discussions between the city and school district have been in the works for a substantial period of time.

"There have been ongoing discussions with the city regarding district property since 2006," Redella said. "This is kind of where that came from. People think this is all of a sudden, but the city and the school district have been talking about 200 North PCH for a long time."

Some members of the Redondo Beach community have expressed opposition to the proposed land swap due in large part to Measure C, passed in February of 2008.

Measure C proposed over $145 million worth of improvements to schools in the RBUSD, including South Bay Adult School Edison Center.

Nevertheless, the land swap proposes that the Edison site be torn down in favor of affordable housing, and the South Bay Adult School be moved to the Franklin site. 

The Franklin site is not one of the twelve school sites outlined in Measure C set to receive improvement funds.

North Redondo Beach resident Dr. Holly Osborne spoke out against the land swap at the RBUSD Board of Education meeting held on Sept. 13.

Osborne commented that those in her community are unhappy with the plan to build affordable housing, and those who voted for Measure C "are feeling betrayed."

"Our tax dollars over the next 30 or so years are going to be paying for a bond fund that would not be delivering what was promised," Osborne said. 

There has also been somewhat of a public outcry regarding the city's plans for the Edison site and implementing an affordable housing project.

Grant confirmed that the city has discussed affordable housing ideas, but also put to rest the possibility of any "back door" deals that excommunicate city residents.

"Over the next months, there will be ample opportunity for public comment," Grant said. "There will be public hearings and we'll be doing outreach in the neighborhood.

"The influence of the residents is possibly the most important part of the process."