Board Talks Knob Hill Property's Future

The future of the property at 320 Knob Hill is quickly becoming a hot button topic within the Redondo Beach community once again—a sentiment that became apparant as the Board of Education listened to public comment regarding the property at Tuesday's meeting.

In fact, the discussion concerning the Knob Hill property was supposed to include only board members, but school board President Jane Diehl and Vice President Anita Avrick thought it best that those in attendance have a chance to address the board with their proposals or concerns.

The plot at 320 Knob Hill is currently occupied by SELPA, the Special Education Local Plan Area. The tenant's lease expires in two years. Additionally, the city of Redondo Beach over the summer vacated the offices it had leased at the site for several years.

What will become of the property then is essentially up for debate. Over the past year or so, negotiations with developers, the city and a Christian school for use of the property have all fallen through.

Redondo Beach resident Jim Menton, who spoke on behalf of Fountain Square Development, used his three minutes at the podium to propose that the school board construct a senior housing facility.

“There’s a clear-cut need on the part of the school board for money, there’s a clear-cut need to do something with that facility,” Menton said after Tuesday’s meeting. “And we feel it’s an ideal place for a residential care facility.”

Also in attendance Tuesday was Kelly Martin of the Knob Hill Community Group, who took the podium immediately after Menton and implored the school board to keep 320 Knob Hill as some form of educational facility.

“The minute we develop on this property, we’re going to have to change the zoning,” Martin said. “Once the zoning changes, we forever lose the opportunity to convert that site back to a school. So we are fighting to keep it as a school.”

According to Martin, her community group has done a qualitative research study of children in the area and has come to the conclusion that there are approximately 15 kids on every avenue from Pacific Coast Highway to Knob Hill.

Martin said that kids are required to cross Pacific Coast Highway in order to attend or , which she sees as having a negative effect on those schools.

“With Alta Vista, we’re seeing a big problem with the temporary buildings and the schools are impacted,” Martin said. “We feel that there’s a need for additional schools in the neighborhood, especially in South Redondo.”

Menton, however, said a facility for seniors would be beneficial to the school district financially, as well as positively impact the community as a whole.

“With Alta Vista and Tulita and close by, there may be really no need for an educational facility right there,” said Menton, who maintained there are fewer than 90 students west of Pacific Coast Highway.

“[A senior residential facility] would draw from the entire community, not just people west of PCH,” Menton added. “It’s clear this district needs money and has a responsibility to the community, and the community has a responsibility back. We want to be good neighbors and neighbors that can support the district financially.”

The school board made little comment during the discussion, but the sentiment was clear: the district is in need of financial support, which would have a significant impact on the final decision.

“I’d love to be a good neighbor and find a good solution that works for the both of us, but bottom line is the district needs the money,” said board member Laura Emdee.

“We need to be able to manage our property accordingly.”