School Site Land Sale

The emergence of a controversy over the sale of school lands after 11 years (July 7) is both amazing and amusing. As the owner of a home adjacent to the parcel in question, which is known as “Horse Flats,” I offer a few observations.

In fairness to the school board, the sale of the majority of the land seemed appropriate to most observers at the time. The specter of forced busing for racial balance was upon us. Enrollments were falling as residents shifted to private schools. The board contemplated elaborate transportation plans to meet the court requirements. The giant high school complex planned for the site seemed unnecessary and would surely have complicated the busing plan, as it would have been located in a corner of the city, in an almost all white area, with only one access road.

On the other hand, the board made some obvious errors. As should be clear from its name, the Porter Ranch Development Co. planned to develop the land, which means that everyone involved should have anticipated additional children in the area, and the board should have reserved sufficient land for at least an elementary school.

Then there is the issue of the sale price. The sale was not well advertised. The post-sale announcement, which was very small itself, came as a complete surprise to most local residents. Even with the negative effects of the busing on the attractiveness of the area, home prices were rising rapidly. Horse Flats was the last large parcel of essentially flat land left in the city.

Considering both of these factors, I believe that almost anyone who was given sufficient notice that the land would be sold for only $1.5 million could have assembled the resources to purchase it. Alternatively, a well promoted sale would have led to a substantially higher price.

ARTHUR SCHUETZ

Northridge