Segerstroms offers $2 million to schools

Lolita Harper

COSTA MESA -- The Segerstrom family announced Wednesday it will donate

$2 million to Costa Mesa high schools and middle schools if its

development deal for Home Ranch is approved by the city.

In an effort to raise community support for the Home Ranch project --

proposed for the final piece of farmland held by the dynasty family --

the Segerstroms offered to set up, or contribute to, educational funds

for students in seventh through 12th grades.

Costa Mesa High School, which serves those grades, will receive $1

million, and Estancia High and TeWinkle Middle schools will get the other

million, said Paul Freeman, spokesman for C.J. Segerstrom & Sons. School

officials at Estancia and TeWinkle will decide how to split their half.

Although some Costa Mesa residents attend Newport Harbor High School,

Harbor already has a successful foundation and does not need the money as

much as the other schools, Freeman said.

“This proposal reflects our desire to respond to community concerns.

Regardless of where they live, the only common issue that we heard from

residents was education,” Freeman said.

The money will be allocated to educational funds, which will be run by

a board of directors that is selected by parents and school officials.

The Segerstrom family will pay installments of $400,000 per year for five

years, for a total of $2 million. The first payment will be made the day

the first building permit is issued by the city, Freeman said.

If managed correctly, the schools should be able to spend the interest

for school programs, while still adding to the lump sum, Freeman said.

Trust fund board members, with the input of parents, teachers and

students, will decide how the money will be spent.

Jim Scott, an active member in the community who was at the meeting,

said he is thrilled that the Segerstrom family is going above and beyond

the required educational fees. The money will fund programs that

otherwise would not be available at the schools, he said.

“They’re giving the kids at Estancia and Costa Mesa high a chance to

share in the wealth,” Scott said.

C.J. Segerstrom & Sons has been trying to develop the site -- a lima

bean farm bordered by the San Diego Freeway, Fairview Road, Harbor

Boulevard and Sunflower Avenue -- for nearly 20 years but has been met

with considerable resident opposition.

A number of residents are still concerned about the amount of traffic

and pollution the project may cause. Those opposed to the project feel

the educational money is just a ploy to market the development.

Among those who have concerns is Councilman Chris Steel.

“I think it’s a well-intended public relations move that is not going

to sway my vote or make a dent in the schools,” Steel said. “It’s a nice

try, but it’s money down the drain.”

Freeman assured residents that the city would be receiving a worthy

project.

“The project proposals of today are far less intense than before, but

the benefits are far more significant,” Freeman said. “Don’t get a sense

that it is like 10 years ago.”

Final plans for the Home Ranch project -- which calls for a 17-acre

Ikea furniture store, 791,050 square feet of office space, 252,648 square

feet of industrial space and 192 homes -- still have not been completed.

* Lolita Harper covers Costa Mesa. She may be reached at (949)

574-4275 or by e-mail at o7 lolita.harper@latimes.comf7 .