INSIDE THE CITY (ITC) – The Inglewood City Council approved spending $14 million on a shuttered school to allegedly turn it into a “park,” and if you believe that…well, you aren’t paying attention to the City’s actions.
Many vacant parcels around the City have been earmarked for housing projects that aren’t being built. In the case of the shuttered Worthington Elementary School in the 11100 block of S. Yukon Ave., it appears it will ultimately become housing just like the property that used to house Clyde Woodworth and Morningside High School.
On December 14, 2024, Inglewood Unified County Administrator Dr. James Morris obtained approval from the Department of Housing and Community Development1 to declare the property as “exempt surplus land”.
According to the department’s senior housing manager, the land could only be sold to “specified public entities”.
“The Advisory Committee recommended that the County Administrator deem the property surplus, which would require a Public Offering of the Property at market value for sale or lease to specified public entities, and if no public entity expresses an interest in purchasing or leasing the Property, the Property can then be offered for sale or lease to the public through an Open Bidding process,” wrote Laura Nunn.
The school district enlisted DCG Strategies to market the three (3) acre parcel that is zoned as R-2: Residential Limited Multiple-Family.
The bid documents publicized by DCG Strategies indicate the district was seeking a housing developer to purchase the property.
SECTION 2 – DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM This section shall include a narrative description of the architectural and land planning theme for the project. Identify the planned improvements including the number of buildings by use, the estimated square footage devoted to each building and use, the approximate building footprints, the proposed unit mix with average unit sizes, amenities, parking, and public uses, if any. Include a preliminary site plan. While a detailed completed site plan, prototype housing and elevations are not required at this time (although strongly encouraged), a preliminary site plan is necessary to properly evaluate each proposal.
The district received seven bids, six of which were from housing developers: City of Inglewood (“City”), City Ventures, Melia Homes, Meritage Homes, RC Homes, Sola Impact, and The Olson Company.
The City’s description of expanding the property as a park appears to be a way to avoid a stringent CEQA environmental review, particularly regarding traffic circulation.
The property is located in Council District 4 which is represented by Dionne Faulk. Faulk has been busy hosting nearly monthly town hall meetings, and an inordinate amount of community events at the Crenshaw-Imperial shopping center and will soon host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the still incomplete public works project along Crenshaw Blvd.
Understanding how the Inglewood City Council operates, Councilwoman Faulk is setting her constituents up for the big one. ANOTHER monstrous housing development in their already tight neighborhood.
Related: Inglewood residents speak out against proposed zoning changes
The City’s description of expanding the property as a park appears to be a way to avoid CEQA environmental review, particularly regarding traffic circulation.
Many of the streets surrounding Worthington Elementary School are so narrow that residents are relegated to only parking on one side of the street. The property is within walking distance of the Sports and Entertainment District that houses the Intuit Dome and SoFi Stadium and more importantly, it is located within the Crenshaw/Imperial Transit Oriented Development Plan.
The property is located in Council District 4 which is represented by Dionne Faulk. Faulk has been busy hosting nearly monthly town hall meetings, and an inordinate amount of community events at the Crenshaw-Imperial shopping center and will soon host a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the still incomplete public works project along Crenshaw Blvd.
Related: Inglewood Planning Commission to consider 5-story multi-family housing project in 4th District
Knowing how this city council operates she is setting them up for the big one. ANOTHER monstrous housing development in their already tight neighborhood.
Residents have already encountered many business closures along Imperial Hwy – the Imperial Car Wash, the former United Health building, and Today’s Fresh Start Charter School, which will reopen under Amino.
The City is well known for springing last minute developments onto the residents and with the mayor carefully monitoring his council colleagues, don’t be surprised when you hear about the new housing heading to Council District 4 after the Nov. 3 election.
To learn more about the City’s plans for housing and transportation vist NextLevelInglewood.com.
- HCD’s Review of Inglewood Unified School District Resolution No. 17/20242025 Declaring Property Located at 11101 South Yukon Ave, Inglewood (APN 4033-013-908) as “Exempt Surplus Land” https://www.hcd.ca.gov/sites/default/files/docs/planning-and-community/HAU/inglewood-unified-school-district-south-yukon-avenue-exempt-review-121924.pdf ↩︎