Lawyer to Help Market School Site
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The Torrance Unified School District will draw up a contract with lawyer Richard Godino of Bergman & Wedner Inc. to help market and develop the former Columbia School site in northwest Torrance.
The school board on Monday voted 5 to 0 to approve hiring Godino, and trustees said they are optimistic that a consultant’s assistance will produce a tenant for the site.
“If these guys can’t do it, I don’t know who can,” said trustee John Eubanks.
Godino has helped other school districts, including Redondo Beach, lease vacant sites. Torrance officials say they hope he will locate a developer willing to rent and develop the Columbia site on a long-term lease.
Godino’s fee will be a percentage of the first full year’s total rent, determined by a formula and paid over two years or less. The contract can be canceled on 30 days’ notice, and Godino then would be reimbursed at $125 an hour. But Board Vice President David Sargent said cancellation is unlikely.
The former Columbia School, on a 4.95-acre site at 4502 186th St., closed in the spring of 1988. District efforts to lease the site have been unsuccessful.
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