Santa Ana : School District Loses Bid to Block City Land Sale

A Superior Court judge Wednesday rejected the Garden Grove Unified School District’s request that he stop the City of Santa Ana from selling a five-acre site to a local developer for an 81-unit condominium complex.

District officials said they would meet this week to discuss whether or not to continue with a lawsuit against Santa Ana in light of Judge Phillip Schwab’s ruling. School district lawyer Ron Wenkart said a decision probably would be made next week.

The suit stems from the district’s sale in 1976 of 15 acres of land northwest of Progresso and La Bonita streets to the city for $500,000. Ten acres are already being developed into single-family homes and Santa Ana is negotiating with Lowy Development Corp. for condominiums on the remaining five acres, with a reported asking price on the land of about $1 million.

Assistant Supt. Elmer Clute said the district’s position is that the original sale agreement called for the land to be developed into a park. He said residential construction would add a great burden to already-crowded schools in the area. “All of the schools along the Santa Ana River corridor--about a mile and a half from the river--have anywhere from five to 11 portable buildings already,” he said.

Santa Ana officials say profits from the sale would be used for expansion of city parks. City Atty. Edward Cooper said he feels Schwab’s decision spells defeat for the district’s lawsuit.