Bulldozers and dump trucks are chewing through the San Antonio Shopping Center as the Los Altos School District finally starts clearing its long-discussed "10th site" in Mountain View. The district-owned 11.7-acre parcel, purchased in 2019, is being converted from vacant retail into a new TK–8 campus after years of delays and debate over which school would occupy the property. District staff say the campus is scheduled to welcome students in fall 2028.
Crews began knocking down existing structures in mid-June, pulling apart a partially empty Kohl’s and neighboring storefronts to make room for classrooms instead of clothing racks. "We’re really seeing a lot of movement, and it’s been going great," Assistant Superintendent Erik Walukiewicz told reporters as heavy machinery worked through the site. The outlet reported that demolition work began June 15 and quoted Walukiewicz saying the district remains on track to have the site ready by fall 2028, according to the Mountain View Voice.
What will rise here
The district's project page outlines plans for an approximately 85,000-square-foot, two-story TK–8 campus serving about 600 students, with dedicated classroom buildings, administrative offices, a library and joint-use athletic fields. The plans also include a two-acre public park that will be conveyed to the City of Mountain View and a community gym designed for use after school hours. The Los Altos School District notes that demolition and site preparation began in May 2026 and describes a phased construction schedule that keeps the campus on target for a Fall 2028 opening, according to the Los Altos School District.
Why it’s been contentious
The board’s October vote to approve schematic designs came with a high-stakes directive: move forward with allocating the new campus to Bullis Charter School. That move has drawn pushback from some residents and board members. Bullis, which reports serving more than 1,000 students, currently operates across multiple campuses, raising capacity questions for a site planned for roughly 600 students.
The dispute has already led to at least one trustee resigning in protest earlier this year, a reminder that the choice of occupant is shaping more than just floor plans. As detailed in Hoodline, the debate over how to use the campus remains active, while the school's enrollment is documented by Bullis Charter School.
Timeline and what’s next
In early May, the board approved an amendment that allowed demolition and initial utility work to move forward, a contract change the district said put mobilization firmly on the calendar. The construction plan calls for phased site utilities and foundation work, followed by the erection of classroom buildings and interior fit-out. Blach Construction is listed as the general contractor on the project materials.
District officials say a ceremonial groundbreaking is planned for later this summer, with routine construction milestones to follow as the district works toward a fall 2028 opening, according to Citizenportal.ai.
