Laguna Beach : Former School Site Seen as Possible Housing Area

For some south Orange County senior citizens, the solution to the high cost of housing might soon be found in a place once reserved mostly for the very young.

If a plan involving the county, the Laguna Beach Unified School District and a private, nonprofit agency is successful, work to convert part of an unused elementary school in South Laguna into a low-cost senior housing development will be under way by fall.

Clyde Lovelady, business manager for the Laguna Beach school district, said the district plans to sell Aliso School, closed several years ago because of declining enrollment, to the county, which in turn, would sell half of the 6.75-acre site to National Church Residences of Laguna Beach.

Using $3.8 million in federal funds, the nonprofit group would then build 71 apartments, utilizing some existing classrooms as well as building additional structures on its half of the site.

According to Brooks White, vice president of Shelter Ventures Corp., a Laguna Beach-based consulting firm hired by National Church Residences, the one-bedroom and studio apartments, complete with kitchens and bathrooms, would be rented to people over 62 with low incomes.

Although rents would range from $480 to $600 a month, White said the low-income residents will be able to apply for HUD rental subsidies that could drastically reduce the amount paid every month.

White said National Church Residences hopes to begin construction by October and plans to complete the project in 10 to 12 months.

Meanwhile, the county-owned half of the site will become a park, day-care facility and a senior-citizens’ center, according to county officials.

The project will be considered by the Laguna Beach school board Wednesday, when it will be asked to pass a resolution to approve the sale to the county. If approved, details of the sale would still have to be worked out and final approval by the county Board of Supervisors would be needed.