School Panel to Vote on Sale of 36 Acres

The potential sale of 36 acres of land owned by the Simi Valley Unified School District will be put to a vote when the school board meets Jan. 26, board members said last week.

The city is expected to buy the land at Alamo Street and Tapo Canyon Road in order to help the school district get the greatest profits from the property.

“We’re ready to do something with that property,” school board member Diane Collins said.

“Our main goal is to get the maximum out of it.”

After months of discussions, the district and city officials have worked out a tentative agreement that calls for Simi Valley to purchase the land and then sell it for the district.

Essentially, the city would act as a real estate broker for the school district.

“We’ve always wanted the district to get their best bang for the buck,” said Councilwoman Barbra Williamson. “I think that’s the way to go.”

The plan, as presented last Thursday to school district officials by City Manager Mike Sedell, calls for the city and district to decide on a minimum price the district would accept for the property.

The district is expected to ask for a figure between $12 million and $15 million.

All the money received from the sale will go to the school district, even if it is more than the board asks for, Sedell stressed.

The city would take only its direct costs for making the sale, such as legal fees, he said.