IRVINE : Job-Training Center Proposed for Base

A coalition of Orange County educators is proposing to convert parts of the Tustin Marine Corps Air Station to an education center that will offer training in health care, business and a variety of other jobs.

Coalition members also envision a business laboratory in which new business concepts would be tested and business people from Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe could learn how to conduct business in the United States.

In the midst of this education hub would be built a cultural center to highlight art, dance and music and a language school where students could learn Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese.

“We have a model that could be duplicated across the country,” said Vivian Blevins, chancellor of the Rancho Santiago Community College District during the coalition meeting Monday at Irvine Valley College.

She said an application will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education on Dec. 19 under a federal law that allows federal, state and local agencies, as well as groups providing services to homeless people, to request surplus military property.

Dana Ogdon, a Tustin planner who attended the coalition meeting, said that 250 to 300 acres of the 1,620-acre base may be given or sold at discount prices to public and nonprofit agencies.

The rest would be sold to private developers, probably starting in 1997, in an effort to help the local economy through increased property and sales taxes. Market studies by consultants helping a Tustin panel on future use of the base estimate the land will be worth $386 million to $611 million by 1998.

This does not include the 1,500 military housing units now on the base. The coalition is seeking some of the units as future student dormitories.

Advocates for homeless people are hoping the units could be used for emergency and temporary housing.

Ogdon said the military is expected to keep the housing, at least until nearby El Toro Marine base closes.

In addition to Rancho Santiago Community College District, the coalition consists of the Santa Ana Unified School District, the Saddleback Community College District, Cal State Fullerton and UC Irvine.

The Orange County Department of Education, a member of the coalition, will submit a separate application to the U.S. Department of Education, according to Robert D. Ours, facilities and planning administrator.

The county’s request includes student dormitories and facilities for the same health care and social service courses that the coalition is proposing.