HUNTINGTON BEACH : Buyer Sought for Bushard School

School district officials hope to find a buyer for the vacant Bushard Elementary School in Huntington Beach, which has become an eyesore for neighbors and a magnet for vandalism.

After years of attempts to develop the site, district officials said they hope to sell the property at 19699 Education Lane as soon as this month to a developer for single-family homes.

“Believe me, I’m sympathetic with their concerns, and we’re doing the best we can to get the property developed to get rid of the problems,” said Robert Sedlak, board president of the Fountain Valley Unified School District.

Marc Ecker, assistant superintendent of administration and business, said three developers who are interested in the site will make public presentations to trustees on Aug. 10. Trustees could decide to accept an offer from one of the developers.

Steve Stafford, who lives near the closed school, said the property has “become a real headache in the neighborhood--a real problem. It’s become a gang hangout and drug-dealing area.”

Stafford said he has gathered signatures from more than 50 neighbors to petition the city of Huntington Beach and the Police Department to “enforce all laws and codes and with whatever action necessary to either demolish or correct the unsafe conditions and problems” at the school site.

Ecker said that the district has responded to community concerns.

“We mow the lawns on a regular basis and clean up the graffiti,” Ecker said. He added that old furniture and appliances that people dump on the site are removed, and the parking lot has been chained off.

Meanwhile, Sedlak said developers’ proposals “look good. They’re qualified, and they’re giving us a fair price.”

Two years ago, the Huntington Beach City Council voted to allow the school site to be developed with houses, despite some opposition from residents. The council gave approval for 58 single-family homes on the 10-acre site. That approval is transferable to another developer as long as the original plans approved by the city are kept, Ecker said.

Last year, a deal fell through because the developer was unable to secure financing.

Officials said the school sale is important because the money will help the cash-strapped district.

“We need money desperately, and we think we can get a pretty good deal,” Ecker said.