Two former elementary school campuses in Huntington Beach may soon trade classrooms for apartments, as the Ocean View School District moves ahead with a plan to turn the shuttered sites into workforce housing that would prioritize district employees and other public-sector workers. District leaders say the idea is to reuse vacant land, bring in steady revenue, and keep long-used fields open, all while helping staff live closer to their jobs at a time when student enrollment has dropped.
District RFP and Developer Obligations
In February, the district issued a combined Request for Qualifications and Proposals inviting developers to pitch either a long-term joint-occupancy ground lease or a property exchange for the Pleasant View and Sun View properties. Under the RFQ, partner firms must cover project financing, secure entitlements, handle environmental remediation, and comply with prevailing-wage and other legal requirements, while the district would keep title to any improvements it continues to use, according to Ocean View School District.
Sites, Green Space, and Proposals Received
Pleasant View spans about 10.6 acres, and Sun View roughly 13.8 acres. The district’s solicitation directs developers to preserve existing pocket parks and add new acres for youth soccer fields, along with dedicated parking. Officials opened a roughly 90-day window for submissions and received 25 proposals from interested firms as they look to repurpose underused land; enrollment has fallen nearly 23% over the past decade. “We open this up to public employees, and then after that to the general public,” Board President Gina Clayton-Tarvin said, as reported by the Los Angeles Times.
Legal Framework and Eligibility
State law allows school districts to pursue workforce housing under Government Code section 65914.7, and the district’s RFQ materials lean on that statute. The documents contemplate projects of up to 20 units per acre, with potential density bonuses and specified affordable set-asides. The solicitation also reiterates that the new homes should first be offered to Ocean View employees and other local public-agency workers before opening to the broader rental market, according to Ocean View School District.
Next Steps for Trustees
Assistant Superintendent Keith Farrow told trustees he hopes to bring a recommended proposal for board action at the July 14 meeting as staff reviews developer offers and legal terms. The RFQ schedule called for final proposals in early May, a recommendation of firms in June, and negotiations continuing into June and July. Board members have said they will work closely with legal counsel as they evaluate responses and decide whether to proceed, according to the Los Angeles Times.
If trustees sign off, the projects would be privately financed and could add workforce housing while preserving neighborhood playing fields the district describes as scarce. Nearby residents and youth-sports groups are expected to watch the negotiations closely to see how any final deal treats open space and the district’s long-term interests.
