SANTA ANA : School Site Plan Dropped by Board

The Santa Ana Unified School District has abandoned a plan that could have resulted in the takeover of 52 homes to build an elementary school in the southwest portion of the city, Supt. Rudy M. Castruita said Wednesday.

Castruita said the district’s trustees made the decision after looking at the cost of the project and the legal ramifications of purchasing the land. He would not elaborate. The board made its decision in a closed session, and members declined comment.

The district was planning to build a school on 6.9 acres between Sullivan and Clara streets, north of Wilshire Avenue. The project could have required the district to use its power of eminent domain to gain possession of the needed land, on which 52 homes are located.

The district began reviewing the site in 1986, approved it as a future elementary school location in 1989 and appointed a property appraiser last month, said Mike Vail, director of facilities.

Had the district proceeded, it would have attempted to purchase homes located on the future school site. In cases where no agreement could be reached with property owners, the district would have had the option of forcing a sale through eminent domain.

“It was the best site from both an educational and cost perspective,” Vail said. “We have looked at many, many options over the last few years, and this seemed like the best location because it was in the middle of a residential neighborhood.”

The decision came as a relief to resident Beatrice Calderon, who would have been forced to move from the home on Clara Street where she has lived with her husband, Joe, for 33 years.

“Our prayers have been answered,” she declared.

Despite her relief, Calderon said she was upset with the district for leaving her and her family “in limbo” for five years.

“This has been the most traumatic time in our lives,” she said. “I’ll be happy as long as they don’t bother us anymore and leave us alone. It’s been hell. Somebody should do something about eminent domain. I’m just fed up with the system and the way it takes people’s homes.”