HarborTides

Posted in: News on 5/19/09 at 12:53 PM PST

Media Credit: Yvette Perez Corner of Figueroa Place and PCH marks end of campus expansion.

Possible campus expansion is on the horizon. But nothing is set in stone. David Hart, Resource Person for Harbor College, briefed the College Planning Council about a potential land swap with the Los Angeles Department of Parks and Recreation in a Jan. 26 meeting held in the Student Services and Administration Building. One of the options discussed was the likelihood of an eventual presence on Pacific Coast Highway. No negotiations about the prospective expansion have been initiated between the CPC and the L.A. Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The CPC has not conferred about the topic since Jan. 26.

"There are pros and cons," said Linda M. Spink, president of Los Angeles Harbor College. "We are in the process of researching and gathering data. Right now it's in the planning stages."

The area up for grabs is approximately 14-18 acres and is north of the college along PCH. The property is part of the Harbor Park Golf Course and is owned by the Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The school campus is surrounded by land belonging to Dept. of Parks and Recreation. The trade, if agreed upon by the city and the district board of trustees, would be for the Harbor College golf driving range located at the back of campus. Two golf holes would have to be relocated if the project is green-lighted and development costs would have to be paid for.

LAHC also inquired about buying land. Two car lots next to Denny's restaurant along PCH are no longer in use and the college has expressed interest in purchasing them in order to see a possible frontage on a major street come to fruition.

"It's a very early concept at this point," said Larry Eisenberg, executive director of facilities, planning and development at the district level. "No agreement has been made with Parks and Rec as of yet."

Students are enthusiastic about seeing the perimeters of Harbor College broaden.

"Maybe it's time to grow," ASO president Kenneth Gulley said. We're behind the 110 freeway and landlocked. But I understand the economic situation. It's going to take a lot to make it happen."

The number of students enrolled at Los Angeles Harbor College for spring semester '09 was 9,990. Only ten enrollees shy of the 10,000 student mark. If the numbers this semester are indicative of student enrollment over fall and spring semesters to come, the question is whether or not LAHC needs to expand sooner rather than later.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools