City buys land for $3.5 million

COSTA MESA — The City Council voted, 5-0, to spend $3.5 million of the city’s reserve money to buy a closed day school on the Eastside and convert it into a park.

At Tuesday’s meeting, with a number of residents present, the council approved both buying the property at 261 Monte Vista Ave., which has housed Park Private Day School for three decades, and authorizing a loan from the reserves to the city’s park development fees fund. Both resolutions passed unanimously.

The residents who spoke at the meeting all supported the purchase, with some saying they looked forward to an extension of neighboring Brentwood Park.

“We have a large group of nannies and babies who visit the park,” said Rachel Hamilton, who lives nearby.

Park Private Day School, which served children in kindergarten through the eighth grade, operated on Monte Vista Avenue since the 1970s. In addition to classes, the school hosted a non-academic day camp during the summer.

The school closed its doors for the last time on June 16. Shortly afterward, the city expressed interest in buying the property.

The 1.19-acre property is adjacent to Brentwood Park and would be combined into one 2.65-acre plot under the council’s plans.

But that’s about all that’s certain so far. The council vote included a provision to seek ideas from the community about the use and design of the park.

The school buildings on the land are in disrepair and will likely be demolished.