OWNERS IRATE AS LAUSD CONSIDERS SEIZING HOMES.

Byline: Jennifer Radcliffe Staff Writer

Homeowners in several pockets of the San Fernando Valley are up in arms after learning the Los Angeles Unified School District is considering acquiring their homes through eminent domain to build new schools.

As part of the second phase of its $10 billion construction plan, LAUSD sent hundreds of notices this month to homeowners who live on possible sites, including some in Granada Hills and Reseda.

The sweeping notification process is just one phase of selecting school sites, and doesn't necessarily mean residents will lose their homes or businesses, said Ed Van Ginkel, LAUSD's senior development manager.

``We really are trying to avoid taking houses,'' Van Ginkel said. ``We know there's a housing crunch. We know our community needs businesses and jobs.''

LAUSD relocated 1,200 families and 400 businesses during its first round of construction, including 205 in the San Fernando Valley.

Estimates for the second phase aren't available yet, but LAUSD officials are looking for about eight sites in the Valley.

Ed Burke, chief of staff for board member Jon Lauritzen, said the district should be more thoughtful with the letters it sends out. The four-paragraph notice was vague, unsigned and didn't include contact information. And board members weren't warned that they were being sent.

``We ought to somehow explain the process better,'' Burke said. ``The way we're doing it is perhaps not the most friendly way.''

Some of the Reseda and Granada Hills residents who received notices are organizing to fight for their homes.

``We just know we need to fight,'' said Jan Amandus, who has lived in her home near Balboa Boulevard and Forbes Avenue for 25 years. ``I just don't want to lose my home. That's the bottom line.''

But the neighborhoods are backup sites to the district's top choices - the former Granada Hills hospital and the West Valley Occupational Center, Burke and school officials said.

LAUSD will exhaust those options before they take homes. And any homeowners who are relocated would be offered appraised market value for their homes, LAUSD officials said.

``It's a challenge to build schools in this region,'' said Glenn Gritzner, special assistant to the superintendent. ``Taking people's homes is our last resort to building schools, but some times there's no other choice.''

Jennifer Radcliffe, [phone]

jennifer.radcliffe(at)dailynews.com

IF YOU GO

--A neighborhood meeting will be held at 9 a.m. today at Pathway Christian Fellowship Church, 9950 Balboa Blvd., for residents living east of Balboa and south of Mayall Street.

--An LAUSD site selection meeting will be held for Valley Region High School No. 4 in the Granada Hills area at 6:30 p.m. April 20 at Henry Middle School, 17340 San Jose St.

--An LAUSD site selection meeting for Valley Region High School No. 6 in the Reseda area will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 22 at Sutter Middle School, 7330 Winnetka Ave.

--For more information, visit www.laschools.org/ or call the facilities department at [phone].

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Photo:

A neighborhood coalition tries to raise awareness of plans by the LAUSD to condemn their homes.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News

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IF YOU GO (see text)