INGLEWOOD – Inglewood Unified has released plans on development of vacant parcels between multiple schools in District 4. This news didn’t come from the areas advisory school board member, we had to hear from word of mouth.
The district previously attempted to lease vacant land between Morningside and Woodworth to Majestic Realty, a real estate development firm with ties to former Inglewood Assemblywoman Autumn R. Burke and her parents, back in 2020.
The proposal never came back to the board agenda, and now they have selected the initial developer of the Daniel Freeman site, Harridge, to build townhomes on the site.
Harridge Development Group was just ran out of South LA by Downtown Crenshaw, when they sought to purchase the Baldwin-Crenshaw Mall.
The school is represented by Advisory Board member Brandon Myers who rarely, if at all, alerts the community about things going on in the district. He was elected to the board when deceptive practices were used in the Inglewood City Clerk’s office to suppress information related to incumbents declining to run for re-election.
Myers raised $0 for his election according to public records. When questioned why the board doesn’t speak up more to the public, he says their hands are tied.
“Dr. Torres has gave advisory board members a directive that we can’t talk to the public, especially you, on school district matters,” said Myers. “If we do, she’s gonna do us like Scorza.”
Scorza was publicly reprimanded during a school board meeting for disparaging comments he made about Inglewood Mayor James Butts in this article.
2UrbanGirls initiated a public records request to the district to determine what directive exists that prevents the advisory board from speaking out on issues in the district.
If they aren’t allowed to speak, why are we electing them? Myers will be asking for your vote this November.
The next school site preparing for housing is Warren Lane.
The district has chosen a developer from the near dozen that expressed interest in leasing the old Clyde Woodworth/excess MHS property. They chose Harridge, the same company that developed the old Daniel Freeman Hospital property. Their concept and preliminary plan will include attached and detached, three-story townhomes, spread over the 23 available acres, an open space, a park, a rec. facility and a new Child Development Center with dedicated access and parking adjacent to the residential development, which the District will continue to utilize and occupy to meet the District’s joint occupancy requirements under the Education Code Statutes. The proposed project will be secured and fenced, with a single access point for exiting and entering controlled by security gates. They believe the townhomes would attract families, provide them with room to grow, promote low-turnover and add to the student population. Additional information is available on the IUSD website.
Sherrie Basch Stelik, Morningside Monarchs Alumni Association
