SAN MARCOS — The San Marcos Unified School District has authorized a $12.5 million purchase agreement for a 4-acre plot in the North City West area for an undetermined future use.
Referred to as Lot 7, the site is one of seven lots within the undeveloped North City West area, located west of Twin Oaks Valley Road, north of Discovery Street and south of state Route 78. The lot is bordered by a planned community park directly east and housing developments to the north currently under construction.
The school district has long retained first rights to buy Lot 7 and has negotiated with North City property developer Sea Breeze Properties for several years. On Jan. 16, the school board officially approved a purchase agreement for the land.
“We have discovered that the acquisition will serve the district by providing a potential future district use in a highly-desirable centralized location to serve our community and the school district,” Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Erin Garcia told board members.
At this time, the district said it is keeping its options open for the land and is not making any immediate moves beyond initial checks and review of the property to meet state requirements.
“It is rare that a school district has an opportunity to purchase land, and we believe it is wise to acquire it should the district have needs in the future. At this time, there are no concrete plans for what the land will be used for or a timeline on when it will be developed,” said district spokesperson Amy Ventetuolo.
The $12.5 million purchase price is based on the fair market value assessed in early 2024. Escrow is set to close in March, according to the district’s purchase agreement.
North City West, where the site is located, is part of the city’s larger 195-acre North City area bordered by Barham Drive and SR-78, spanning both sides of Twin Oaks Valley Road.
A plan with development standards for the area, known as the University District Specific Plan, was adopted in 2009 and adjusted in 2022 to allow for taller building heights.
The project entitlement currently allows for 3,400 residential units (including mixed-family, student housing and affordable housing), 250 hotel rooms, 920,000 square feet of office space, 345,000 square feet of retail, and up to 31 acres of parks and urban open space.
Gary Levitt, Sea Breeze Properties president and North City developer said he is pleased with the agreement reached with the district.
“In 2009, when North City was first approved, North City agreed to provide SMUSD the opportunity to purchase the land for a future school, should the school district decide to build one within the North City Master Planned area. A school within North City would benefit both its residents and the surrounding communities, aligning with our vision of creating a complete community. We sincerely hope the school is built soon,” Levitt said.
San Marcos Unified is a K-12 district serving 19,000 students across 19 schools. Like many districts, it is facing a slow decline in enrollment and, therefore, is not facing a shortage of space for its students.
However, Ventetuolo said the new land allows the district to “remain agile to future needs” if the student population grows.
The purchase agreement comes a couple of months after district voters approved a $324 million bond known as Measure JJ in November. Through a property tax levy of around $40 per $100,000 in assessed value, the district plans to fund needed facility updates, including replacing portable classrooms and campus reconstruction.
San Marcos Unified leaders estimated in 2023 that costs for needed facility modernization and updates are between $250 million and $425 million.
As a result of passing the bond, San Marcos Unified could also be eligible for matching funds from the state under Proposition 2, passed in November.
