Ventura Unified School District has officially made a decision on another one of its surplus properties… and this one could play a meaningful role in the future of housing in Ventura.
This is the second site in a series of three properties the district is repositioning, and this time, the focus is on the Avenue School site.
Where Is the Avenue School Site?
The property is located at:
2647 North Ventura Avenue, Ventura, CA
This puts it in a key corridor along Ventura Avenue, an area that has seen ongoing conversations around redevelopment, housing, and community investment.
How Many Proposals Were Submitted?
The district received eight different proposals for the Avenue School site from a mix of developers and organizations:
- Avenue Trade School
- City Ventures
- Jacob Acosta
- Red Tail Multifamily
- Storm Properties (submitted twice)
- Vanderwolf
- Ventura Housing Authority
After reviewing proposals and hearing public input across multiple meetings, the Board of Education made its decision.
The Decision: Ventura Housing Moves Forward
The board voted unanimously (5–0) to enter into negotiations with Ventura Housing Authority.
It’s important to understand what this means… because who gets selected matters just as much as what gets built.
Who Is Ventura Housing Authority?
The Ventura Housing Authority is a public agency that serves the City of Ventura and focuses exclusively on affordable housing.
Unlike private developers who often build market-rate or for-sale homes, Ventura Housing specializes in:
- Income-restricted rental housing
- Affordable housing for low-income families
- Senior housing communities
- Housing for individuals with disabilities or special needs
- Administration of Section 8 housing vouchers
- Long-term ownership and management of affordable housing communities
In short, they are not a market-rate builder.
If they successfully complete negotiations with VUSD, this site is very likely to become 100% affordable housing.
What Could Be Built Here?
As of now, no final development plan has been approved.
However, we can look at Ventura Housing’s past proposals for insight.
When they were previously being considered for the Washington School site, their concept included:
- Preserving existing structures
- Repurposing buildings for office and community space
- Integrating housing with community-serving uses
Because of that, there is a reasonable possibility that the Avenue School site could follow a similar path, rather than a full teardown and rebuild.
That said, this is still speculative. The project is currently in the negotiation phase, and details will evolve.
Why This Matters for Ventura Real Estate
This decision is significant for a few reasons:
1. Adds Affordable Housing Inventory
Ventura, like much of California, faces ongoing housing affordability challenges. Projects like this help address that gap, particularly for lower-income households, seniors, and workforce residents.
2. Signals Policy Direction
The selection of Ventura Housing over private developers like City Ventures suggests a clear priority toward affordable housing over market-rate development for this site.
3. Impacts the Ventura Avenue Corridor
Development along Ventura Avenue continues to evolve. A project like this could bring long-term residents, stabilize housing opportunities, and add community-oriented uses to the area.
What Happens Next?
The project is not approved yet.
The next steps include:
- Exclusive negotiations between VUSD and Ventura Housing
- Development of a formal project proposal
- Public review and approvals through the City of Ventura
- Design, planning, and eventual construction timeline
As more details become available, the scope, density, and design of the project will become clearer.
