Torrance Unified presents Hamilton site options; neighbors urge keeping fields and services

Keith Butler, Torrance Unified School District's chief business officer, told a packed board meeting at North High School that the district is exploring options for repurposing the Hamilton Adult School site but has made no decisions or deals with developers.

"No decision has been made at this point," Butler said, describing an approximately two‑year timeline from community input to any developer selection and emphasizing that entitlement and city zoning would constrain what could be built.

The presentation framed the review around fiscal pressures and facility condition: staff said bringing Hamilton up to K–12 standards would cost an estimated $5–6 million, with ongoing maintenance of roughly $100,000–$200,000 per year.

Butler described an "exchange" model in which a developer would provide value for the district's Hamilton property and residual proceeds would be reinvested into district income‑producing property. He said the district has heard repeatedly that large‑scale dense apartment blocks are not suitable for the neighborhood and that any RFP would include conditions to respect the area's character, such as a single‑family buffer along the eastern property edge.

The meeting turned into an extended public comment period. Residents raised recurring concerns about loss of green space, traffic and parking impacts, and programmatic effects on adult education and the district's transition (special‑education) program.

"I went there and guess what — it looked fine," said Jim Tarin, who pressed the district for a detailed breakdown of the renovation estimate and questioned outreach notices. Donna Delgado, whose daughter attended Hamilton's transition program, said restrooms and other facilities are "pretty bad" and asked whether grants or bond funds had been pursued to preserve services.

Other commenters urged alternatives for relocating leagues and fields. Ralph Merced, a longtime volunteer coach, suggested Columbia Park because it already has lights and parking; Mark Alvarado, a parent, argued the district's mission should prioritize students over housing development and noted he did not see Hamilton listed on the city's housing element inventory cited by staff.

Staff emphasized mitigation steps they've already proposed: preferred relocation sites for Little League and girl softball (El Nido and North High, with Lincoln as backup), conceptual designs that include two Little League and two softball fields in North Torrance, night lighting to expand play hours, and commitments to avoid losing a season during any transition. Butler also described pocket‑park concepts intended to keep accessible parkland for the surrounding neighborhood.

But many residents said they distrust the process and asked for stronger guarantees. Al Stark, a decades‑long league volunteer, asked that an environmental survey and construction safeguards be included as conditions in any RFP. Parents of transition‑program students repeatedly warned that moving those students off their neighborhood campus would harm access and continuity of services.

Staff urged continued participation through the district's online "thought exchange," which remains open through July 15, and said the board could consider an agenda item as early as August 19 if it chooses to move forward. Butler reiterated that the district is gathering input and that a public RFP, if pursued, would include conditions reflecting community priorities.

Next steps: staff will compile thought‑exchange responses, continue targeted outreach with leagues and schools, and return to the board for any decision about issuing an RFP.