Columbia School’s Rent Reduced

Torrance Unified School District trustees have unanimously approved new lease terms for the former Columbia School, reducing the annual rent by $130,000 in the hope of attracting a tenant for the site.

The board approved a resolution Monday night offering the 4.95-acre site for lease to the highest bidder and setting the minimum first-year rent at $250,000. The draft resolution had proposed a rent of $310,000, and the district had asked for $380,000 this spring when it first tried to lease the site at 4502 186th St. No bidders emerged by the June 4 deadline.

Two weeks ago, the board nearly abandoned its search for a tenant in favor of selling the school, which has been vacant since June, 1988. But some board members successfully lobbied to reopen leasing efforts.

Two board members who had earlier voted against reopening the search for a tenant--William R. Blischke and David Sargent--voted in favor of it Monday night.

“I would enthusiastically vote for this and hope it would work out this time,” Blischke said at the meeting. Leasing, he said, would be in the best interest of the district.

The school district can use revenue from rent for a variety of needs, including salaries. But if the school were sold, state law requires that the profits be used only for capital improvements.

The board stipulated that the successful bidder must pay all costs of repairing or demolishing the buildings on the site. Bids are to be opened Sept. 4.