A building cluster at Van Nuys-Sherman Oaks Park area - good location to raze and then build a high school? (Los Angeles: 2009, apartment complexes)

[Vicman]

While researching Sherman Oaks I found that there is a group of buildings next to the Van Nuys Sherman Oak Park bounded by Van Nuys Boulevard, Huston Street, Tyrone Avenue, and a line north of Addison Street. Much of the buildings seem to be apartment complexes or other multi-family dwellings.

How recently were they built? Are they well-maintained?

I wonder if this would be a good site to eminent-domain and raise in order to construct a high school built there - I always thought Sherman Oaks (with five elementary schools and one middle school within the neighborhood council) needed its own high school. Is this a good spot for a high school?

How much space does LAUSD absolutely need? Could it build high (four or more stories) to reduce the number of properties bought?

The goal would be to relieve U.S. Grant and Van Nuys high schools.

[LaoTzuMindFu]

Sherman Oaks doesnt need a high school. It has Notre Dame (catholic school) and because of S.O.s small size, its students are (and have always been) served by Birmingham, Reseda, Van Nuys and Grant High schools.

Why do you think Sherman Oaks/Tarzana/Encino needs a high school? Dont want your kids going to school where there's lots of Mexicans probably huh? Do you even live in Sherman Oaks? If you do, you are probably a renter.

[SandyCo]

I veto that idea. We need affordable housing more than we need a high school in this area. My kids went to Grant, and did just fine.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by DaBeez

Sherman Oaks doesnt need a high school. It has Notre Dame (catholic school) and because of S.O.s small size, its students are (and have always been) served by Birmingham, Reseda, Van Nuys and Grant High schools.

Why do you think Sherman Oaks/Tarzana/Encino needs a high school? Dont want your kids going to school where there's lots of Mexicans probably huh? Do you even live in Sherman Oaks? If you do, you are probably a renter.

1. The Sherman Oaks neighborhood council is not small (boundary: http://www.shermanoaksnc.org/images/soncmap.gif) - It covers five elementary schools and one middle school. It's roughly Burbank Blvd (that's north of Ventura, if you asked), the 405, Coldwater Canyon Avenue, and Mulholland Drive.

2. AFAIK it's just Grant and Van Nuys, but LAUSD doesn't publish zoning maps. The thing is that the central valley is burgeoning with people

3. Private schools are out of the equation

4. You said: "Dont want your kids going to school where there's lots of Mexicans probably huh?" - I'm sure there are plenty of 'Mexicans' (Your words, not mine) within the boundary I described.

BTW I'm actually in Texas.

Originally Posted by SandyCo

My kids went to Grant, and did just fine.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-a...ant#post283434

In this post you said:

In addition, there was also news coverage of a gang-related shooting right outside Grant High School last week! I'm so glad my children are both out of there

- That was in January 2007

So, how do you reconcile the statements in 2007 and 2009?

[Vicman]

Okay, it's time for me to put the idea that the Sherman Oaks area has a dearth of "Mexicans" to sleep:
* Chandler Elementary: Chandler Elementary School, Van Nuys California / CA school information and ethnic makeup (The address on here says Van Nuys, but it is within the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council)
* Dixie Canyon Elementary: Dixie Canyon Avenue Elementary School, Sherman Oaks California / CA school information and ethnic makeup
* Kester Avenue Elementary: Kester Avenue Elementary School, Van Nuys California / CA school information and ethnic makeup (The address on here says Van Nuys, but it is within the Sherman Oaks Neighborhood Council)
* Riverside Drive Elementary: Riverside Drive Elementary School, Sherman Oaks California / CA school information and ethnic makeup
* Sherman Oaks Elementary: Sherman Oaks Elementary School, Sherman Oaks California / CA school information and ethnic makeup

Of the five, Chandler and Kester Avenue are plurality Hispanic.

This is the neighborhood council boundary: http://www.shermanoaksnc.org/images/soncmap.gif

I don't know their exact attendance boundaries, but they could be duplicated in the SOHS zone.

[LALady]

Originally Posted by Vicman

While researching Sherman Oaks I found that there is a group of buildings next to the Van Nuys Sherman Oak Park bounded by Van Nuys Boulevard, Huston Street, Tyrone Avenue, and a line north of Addison Street. Much of the buildings seem to be apartment complexes or other multi-family dwellings.

Apartments and condos. Single family homes are more likely to get 'razed' for imminent domain. Maybe your home will make a good site for a high school.

[Vicman]

Originally Posted by LALady

Apartments and condos. Single family homes are more likely to get 'razed' for imminent domain. Maybe your home will make a good site for a high school.

I'm personally more comfortable with razing apartments and condos as the residents aren't as attached to them - Dallas ISD did that to build Conrad High School to serve the Vickery Meadow community

[Dark of the Moon]

Since you don't live in the Los Angeles area, I'm curious about why this is such an issue for you?

Originally Posted by Vicman

http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-a...ant#post283434

In this post you said:

- That was in January 2007

So, how do you reconcile the statements in 2007 and 2009?

The quality of education provided by a school isn't necessarily dictated by the level of violence OUTSIDE the school.

[Vicman]

1. In Houston ISD, from my experience in K-12 all the economic levels partake in the school district. The wealthy areas have substantial numbers of children who go to school with people who are not as wealthy who are bussed (not *forced,* but magnet school busing) into the "elite" comprehensives (Bellaire High and Lamar High) and to the magnet schools. I'm thinking of a way to get people in Sherman Oaks, Tarzana, and Encino to send their kids to socioeconomically mixed comprehensive schools - Since the valley is exploding in population anyway, why not build two new high schools there and two new middle schools in Reseda and Valley Glen?

BTW this is Lamar's demographic population: http://www.schooldigger.com/go/TX/sc...12/school.aspx - If you see the free lunch tab it is about 40% - I kind of envision these demographics for Sherman Oaks High

2. ...Which is true, but I was mainly referring to the second part of the statement "I'm so glad my children are both out of there" - Also I think it may be implied (I'm not sure) that the shooting had to do with Grant students

Originally Posted by squeezeboxgal

Since you don't live in the Los Angeles area, I'm curious about why this is such an issue for you?

The quality of education provided by a school isn't necessarily dictated by the level of violence OUTSIDE the school.

[Dark of the Moon]

Originally Posted by Vicman

2. ...Which is true, but I was mainly referring to the second part of the statement "I'm so glad my children are both out of there" - Also I think it may be implied (I'm not sure) that the shooting had to do with Grant students

I shouldn't speak for Sandy, but what I think she's saying is that her kids got a good education but that she was glad, nonetheless, to have them graduate because she no longer had safety concerns to worry about.

And, again, I ask -- why is this of such interest to you?