City of Palo Alto and PAUSD Agree on Steps Toward Cubberley Purchase

Published on October 03, 2024

NEWS RELEASE

For Immediate Release

City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto Unified School District Agree on Steps Toward Cubberley Purchase

Agreement seeks voter approval in 2026 to advance new community center and school improvements

PALO ALTO, CALIF. --- The City and the Palo Alto Unified School District announced today alignment on terms whereby the City will purchase 7 acres of the PAUSD-owned Cubberley site for a new community center.

Upon voter approval of a General Obligation Bond to fund acquisition and development of the Cubberley site in November 2026, the City will purchase 7 acres from PAUSD (including the area currently developed with permanent buildings) at the price of $65.5 million. PAUSD will use sale proceeds for school improvements throughout the district. Prior to going to the voters, the City will develop its plan for a rebuilt and renovated community center and related uses on the site, and PAUSD will develop its school improvement plans.

In the interim, the City and PAUSD will enter into a new five-year lease continuing current use of the property, including the playing fields and parking lots. The City will pay PAUSD $2 million a year as long as PAUSD uses a portion of the property, and $2.5 million when PAUSD is no longer using the property. The City will assume responsibility for maintenance and associated costs for areas not used by PAUSD.

After many years of community interest in the City being able to own enough land to proceed with rebuilding and renovation of the Cubberley Community Center, City and PAUSD officials are pleased to have successfully concluded negotiations with a joint plan that paves the way to stronger schools and a vibrant community center at Cubberley for all Palo Alto residents. The PAUSD Board initiated the process in 2023 with a letter inviting the City to make an offer to purchase additional acres at Cubberley. Both parties proceeded by creating Ad Hoc committees. The City's committee was made up of Council Members Julie Lythcott-Haims (Chair), Pat Burt and Lydia Kou. Their counterparts from the PAUSD Board were Trustees Jennifer DiBrienza (Chair) and Shounak Dharap.

"For decades, our community has asked for the City and PAUSD to 'solve Cubberley,'" said the City's Ad Hoc Committee Chair, Julie Lythcott-Haims. "At long last, we had the right mix of Councilmembers and School Board Trustees needed to get the job done. I'm grateful to all involved - from my Council colleagues and City staff to our counterparts at PAUSD, to all who have come before us in these roles, to so many members of the community. It took a village, working hard over time, to arrive at this alignment."

The City Council and PAUSD Board will act to adopt a memorandum of understanding outlining steps forward on October 7 and October 8 respectively.

PAUSD Board and Ad Hoc Committee Member Shounak Dharap, who penned the 2023 letter that initiated this process, commented: "We are pleased to have finally worked out a tentative deal that will enable the City to breathe new life into the Cubberley site while reserving space the PAUSD may need for a future school. We're optimistic that this agreement will realize a benefit to our community for generations to come."

The City has leased portions of Cubberley from PAUSD since the late 1980s. Currently, there are 23 tenants and 24 artists who sublease space at Cubberley from the City, along with dozens of individual groups who rent or use the theater, pavilion, classrooms, and athletic fields from the City. Combined, these groups provide the community with a range of valued programs that support health and wellness, childcare, education, recreation, and visual and performing arts. The PAUSD uses their spaces for educational purposes, staff offices and has leases with some tenants that were previously leasing space from the City. The parking lot in the southeast corner of the property houses several portable trailers which function as a temporary site for Hoover Elementary School through the 2024-2025 academic year (unless construction time frames shift).

A site map of Cubberley property lines and can be found below, or go here(PDF, 1MB).

Sent By:

Meghan Horrigan-Taylor

Chief Communications Officer

City Manager's Office

Office Phone: (650) 329-2607

Email: [email protected]

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