Whittier Prison Struck From Bill

A plan to turn a historic home for wayward boys in Whittier into a correctional facility was halted Friday, at least temporarily.

Assemblyman Rudy Bermudez (D-Norwalk) said he persuaded the governor to modify a bill that would have reopened the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional Facility as a prison or training academy.

It is the third time this summer that plans for the 73-acre site have changed. What will ultimately become of it is still in question.

“The governor does not want to sell the land,” Bermudez said. “He’s been very adamant about it.”

That’s not good news for Whittier officials, who want the land developed.

“We’re pleased that it’s not dictated to become a correctional facility at this time,” said City Manager Steve Helvey. “We really believe that after 115 years, it’s not really an appropriate site for a correctional facility. It’s surrounded by schools and houses.”

Established in 1891, Nelles was the state’s oldest school for youthful offenders. It closed in May 2004, and the state declared the land surplus property and put it up for sale.

Bermudez said he got the city the right of first refusal, but it wouldn’t pay what the state considered fair. The state opened the site up to all comers, and Richard Meruelo -- the largest landowner in downtown Los Angeles -- offered the top bid, $107 million. Bermudez said the city initially objected.

In the meantime, crowding in the state’s prisons increased. The governor called a special session on the subject in June. One of his proposals was to reopen Nelles as a correctional facility. Bermudez’s bill would prevent that.

“I couldn’t allow that to happen to my community,” Bermudez said. “I think there were other options, and I don’t think the governor needs to take on this issue right now.”