Wal-Mart breaking ground at old school site

Angelique Flores

HUNTINGTON BEACH-- The walls of the closed Crest View School are

tumbling down to make way for Wal-Mart.

Demolition crews arrived last week to begin clearing the 14-acre

property at Talbert Avenue near Beach Boulevard. Work is expected to take

an additional two weeks, said Ocean View School District Supt. Jim

Tarwater.

One year ago this month, a five-year battle came to an end when 54.1%

of the voters cast their ballots defeating Measure I. This move put the

brakes on an effort to rezone the school site to a residential zone,

which would have blocked the construction of the Wal-Mart store.

Community members came together, forming Crest View United. The group

opposed the retail giant, claiming that a 135,000-square-foot store would

bring increased noise, traffic and air pollution to their neighborhood.

To counter this effort, Save Our Schools, Save Our City united to

welcome Wal-Mart into the community because of the expected revenue it

would bring. The school district will reap an annual $400,000 from lease

income that would go toward school facility improvements. The city would

get about the same amount in sales tax revenue that would go toward

everything from sports and recreational facilities to a senior center.

“It’s the start of getting some money for the district,” said trustee

Carol Kanode. “We look forward to a positive working relationship with

Wal-Mart.”The original plan to open the store in September looks

unlikely. District officials don’t yet know when the store may open.