SIMI VALLEY : School Task Force to Study Land Options

The Simi Valley school board has decided to establish a task force of community members to study options for developing 36 acres of vacant school-owned land across from Simi Valley City Hall.

The task force will include senior citizens, neighborhood council members, Simi Valley residents and representatives of the Chamber of Commerce and PTA. It will hold two public meetings this fall to gather opinions from residents and will make a recommendation in December on the property’s future.

The property, located at the northeast corner of Tapo Canyon Road and Alamo Street, was originally set aside for a high school, which is no longer needed by the district.

Instead, school district officials are exploring possibilities of developing a “town center,” which could include a performing arts center, district administration offices, retail stores, restaurants and apartments or condominiums.

The city’s General Plan now calls for 111 single-family houses and 90 senior citizen apartments to be built on the property. Although located across from City Hall, the property is bordered by homes.

Developing the property as a town center and being its landlord could bring the school district more revenue than selling the property to a housing developer. Due to state reimbursement requirements, the school district would have to give the state a large portion of the money gained from the sale.

“It would be better planning for us to lease the property, perhaps with a 55- or 99-year lease,” said Mary Beth Wolford, assistant superintendent. “But we’re not set on any one plan yet.”

During the summer, school board members, City Council members and government representatives met to discuss different plans for the property.