A decommissioned school campus in Baldwin Park is poised for redevelopment into a new residential community as part of a broader trend across California to convert educational sites into housing to meet state-mandated goals.
The Bassett Village Proposal
Storm Properties, a Torrance-based firm, is pursuing the construction of 104 townhomes at the former Florence Flanner School site, located at 1314 Le Borgne Avenue. The project, dubbed “Bassett Village,” is named for its location on the edge of the unincorporated community of Bassett. The land is currently owned by the Bassett Unified School District.
Designed by Angeleno Associates, the proposed development would feature Mediterranean-style buildings with a mix of two- and three-story floor plans. The project would consist of 20 new buildings, with each townhome including a private two-car garage. Planned amenities for residents include a dog park and a private park.
The project is currently in the environmental review stage. To move forward, Storm Properties is seeking a general plan amendment, a zone change and other city-level entitlements. If these are approved, the development could roll out over a 19-month period between November 2026 and June 2028.
A Growing Trend in School Site Redevelopment
The push to repurpose abandoned school sites is becoming more common as municipalities rush to satisfy state-mandated housing requirements. Similar initiatives are underway across Greater Los Angeles and beyond:
- Inglewood: Developers are planning the “Morningside Project,” which would see 571 townhomes erected on a 23-acre site situated between the defunct Woodworth Elementary and Morningside High schools. The proposal includes 403 row townhomes and 168 interlocking townhomes ranging from one to four bedrooms. This project would include two clubhouses, swimming pools, pocket parks, a dog park, and parking for approximately 1,120 vehicles. Notably, 10 percent of these units would be reserved for very-low-income households, defined as roughly $53,000 for a single person and $75,750 for a household of four.
- San Jose: Earlier this spring, Mana Investments filed plans to develop more than 100 condominiums on a school district-owned site. The proposal would place 32 three-story buildings across roughly 7 acres of former baseball fields located next to a school.
Developer Track Record and Future Outlook
Storm Properties has previous experience with similar residential conversions. The firm previously secured entitlements for a development in the Athens neighborhood of south Los Angeles, which was later sold to KB Home for completion.
The future of the Bassett Village site depends on the outcome of the current environmental review and the approval of necessary city entitlements. If the project proceeds, it may serve as another example of how defunct public infrastructure is being leveraged to increase regional housing density.