The Coast News INLAND EDITION
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VISTA, SAN MARCOS, ESCONDIDO
VOL. 10, N0. 14
JULY 7, 2023
Vista Unified consolidation plan approved Two schools closing; 23-24 year not affected By Laura Place
BLOCK PARTY
offerings and a range of housing options that align with the city’s goals for mixed-use development in this location,” said Lennar San Diego Division President Ryan Green. “As a local resident myself, I’m excited and eager to bring the community’s vision to life.” The new park space will include a skared to as the “rolling plaza” — and pickleball courts, both of which received overwhelming community support at workshops. It will also feature an open space lawn, a small amphitheater, two playgrounds for younger and
VISTA — The Vista Unified School District board accepted recommendations on June 23 to close Beaumont Elementary and Rancho Minerva Middle schools and relocate Vista Innovation and Design Academy in order to “right size” a district heavily impacted by declining enrollment and deteriorating facilities. The recommendations were brought to the board on June 22 by the district’s asset management advisory committee following two months of meetings and community forums surrounding the need for school consolidation. The nine-person committee, formed in April, was tasked with making recommendations for the future of four school sites most heavily affected by low enrollment and poor facility conditions. These included two elementary schools, Beaumont and Monte Vista, and two middle schools, Rancho Minerva and magnet school Vista Innovation and Design Academy, or VIDA. Such committees are required under the state education code in districts considering school closures. In a recently-published report, the committee recommended that Beaumont and Rancho Minerva be closed, Monte Vista Elementary be maximized for educational use, and the site becomes the new location of VIDA. “These are not decisions that we’re making lightly or hastily. We’ve had the benefit of being in the room for hours — we’ve had over 20 meetings this year alone,” said Trustee Julie Kelly. District leaders have assured community members that no schools will close in the upcoming 2023-24 school year. However, families and teachers at the affected schools are devastated by the decision and frustrated by the lack of logistical planning, such as where Beaumont and Rancho Minerva families will be redistributed. Brook Virostko, Beaumont PTA president, said her own daughter is starting fourth grade at Beaumont in the fall, but it’s unclear whether she will have to go to
TURN TO ROW ON 7
TURN TO CONSOLIDATION ON 18
Camp Pendleton service members and their families enjoyed games and other activities during the Marine Corps Community Services Fourth of July celebration at Del Mar Beach on July 3. The event included a family fun zone, food vendors, live music and more. US Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Kayla Trevino
Restaurant Row development plans take shape By Laura Place
Courtesy photo
‘A blessing to see’ Formerly homeless student reconnects with Escondido officer who helped him. 3
New EUHSD chief Jon Petersen, the school board president until May, is named superintendent. 5
SAN MARCOS — Plans for the mixed-use development at the historic Old California Restaurant Row in San Marcos are taking shape, as existing businesses continue to operate until they either move to new locations or close for good. After purchasing the 10.5-acre property in 2020, company San Marcos Restaurant Row LLC announced plans last fall to develop the site into a new community gathering space with 202 housing units, over 10,000 square feet of commercial space and a new 1.5-acre park. Since the fall, project
THE SAN MARCOS mixed-use project includes a new 1.5acre park. Courtesy rendering/Lennar Homes
developer Lennar Homes has held three community workshops to gather feedback regarding project designs. At the most recent June 28 meeting, developers shared updated plans for the project, including detailed designs for a new
park. “This new neighborhood will celebrate the legacy of Old California Restaurant Row by incorporating a mix of outdoor social gathering areas that lead to the new public park, updated dining