District Loses Title to Parcel Sought for School Complex

The Los Angeles Unified School District has lost title to one of the 38 properties it is condemning for a future school complex on a former industrial center in South Gate.

A Los Angeles Superior Court judge returned the property to its owner after the district failed to pay the owner a court-ordered deposit.

The judge’s decision could hinder completion of an elementary school and senior high or raise the cost should the district abandon the project.

Proceedings on the condemnations came to a halt this fall after the district’s environmental safety team objected that serious contamination from industrial activities on the 40-acre property had not been adequately investigated.

“If you have not properly characterized a property, there is a tremendous risk in acquiring it,” said the safety team’s attorney, Barry Groveman. “You don’t know what pitfalls or surprises may come about.”

But Jeffrey Z.B. Springer, attorney for the property owner, Strategic Materials, said his elderly clients have suffered $989,000 in business-related and moving costs and want a quick payment. Springer said one has died since the case was filed.

“As a result of the dismissal, [the district] will pay more in damages and will still not get title to the property,” Springer said.

“We’re disappointed this happened,” district Chief Operating Officer Howard Miller said.

Miller said attorneys for the district made a judgment call to seek a continuance until the board makes a decision on South Gate, which could come soon after a briefing scheduled for Jan. 11.

Several other property owners who have not received payment on judgments totaling more than $4 million are seeking court hearings that could result in dismissal of the condemnations.