On Tuesday, October 13, the Ocean View School District (OVSD) board of trustees agreed to pursue agreements with developers to evaluate the potential for residential developments on two former elementary school sites in Huntington Beach. The proposals focus on transforming the 10.6-acre Pleasant View campus at 16692 Landau Lane and the 13.8-acre Sun View campus at 7721 Juliette Low Drive into housing, including provisions for multifamily workforce housing.
The board's action authorized the district to enter into due diligence and exclusive negotiating agreements. Knighthall Capital and TAIT & Associates will evaluate and pursue joint-occupancy development concepts for the Pleasant View site, while AMCAL Multi-Housing, Inc. will undertake similar evaluations for the Sun View property. District officials stated in a press release that these firms would explore concepts that could include workforce housing, green spaces, parking, and community amenities.
Board President Gina Clayton-Tarvin said in a statement that the district is exploring options to "transform our excess property into something that will truly benefit our communities." She noted that the initiative could provide affordable housing for district employees and create public green spaces. The two potential projects could generate approximately $1.5 million in revenue for the district, according to Clayton-Tarvin.
For the Pleasant View property, a future residential community is envisioned to comprise 152 homes, with about four acres dedicated to soccer fields and open space. Clayton-Tarvin specified that at least 13 percent of these homes would be allocated for the district’s workforce. The agreement for the Sun View property suggests the inclusion of soccer fields on roughly two of its 13.8 acres, though it does not specify the number of residential units.
District staff reported to the trustees that while a joint-occupancy development agreement could return to the school board for consideration in about four months, the site evaluation timelines are subject to extension. Clayton-Tarvin underscored that development is not a certainty, and any final decisions would require board approval after the due diligence processes are complete.
The district's approach is designed to be multi-faceted. Clayton-Tarvin explained that the goal is to support the workforce by enabling employees to live in the communities where they work, while also attracting young families to the district to counteract declining enrollment. According to data from the California Department of Education, Ocean View schools enrolled 6,522 students in the 2025-26 school year, representing a decrease of over 2,000 students compared to the 2015-16 school year.
Clayton-Tarvin emphasized the need for housing in Huntington Beach that accommodates families, stating that the district is working to make the city affordable for its own employees. She added that once district employees have an opportunity to secure housing, units would be opened to the general public, benefiting wider communities.
The two campuses have been part of the district's portfolio for an extended period. Pleasant View Elementary, which opened in 1963, closed in 1985. Sun View Elementary School, which opened in 1964, closed in 2018 and has occasionally served as an interim campus. Clayton-Tarvin noted that retaining these properties as district assets has been a long-term strategy, and the district has previously entered into ground lease agreements with private companies for other properties. Examples include the former Rancho View school site, now leased to Lowe’s Home Improvement and other businesses, and another district-owned property leased to Walmart.
The proposed initiatives have drawn varied responses from candidates for the Ocean View School District Area 5 seat in the upcoming November 3 general election. David Clifford, a director of business development and industry affairs, expressed that the projects would not constitute an effective use of surplus property and would not address the district’s core educational goals. Clifford argued that the district should instead invest in continuing education, support, and modern tools for educators, suggesting the housing projects primarily serve as “perks for a handful of select district employees.”
Conversely, Jennifer Rank, who is seeking re-election for the District Area 5 seat, indicated that creative uses for closed school sites, such as housing developments, “may be part of the answer” to recruit and retain talented educators. Rank affirmed that if district land could support teacher housing, generate new revenue, and preserve green space, it merits consideration. She stated that recruiting and retaining excellent teachers are both crucial.
Similar efforts to develop workforce housing on school sites have been pursued in other Southern California districts. In San Diego, the Unified school board earlier this year took steps to establish workforce housing, aiming to provide subsidized housing for 10 percent of its workforce by the end of the decade. The district announced in January that nearly 3,000 affordable housing units for educators were in development across six sites. Additionally, in August, the Anaheim Union High School District received several redevelopment proposals for its vacant Hope School property, offering various housing options, including workforce housing, along with a potential healthcare or professional facility. District staff are currently evaluating these proposals for the board.
