On March 18, 2024, the City of Vallejo Planning Commission granted a permit for Elite Charter High School to occupy the building located at 241-255 Georgia St., in the heart of the historic downtown district. This usage does not fit with the General Plan 2040, which specifically designates downtown Vallejo's land use as Retail/Entertainment, and which mentions Arts & Entertainment throughout the plan. The usage also does not comply with the Downtown Vallejo Specific Plan which “aims to revitalize Downtown Vallejo into a high-density, mixed-use district within the City. Downtown will feature more intense retail, housing, and an Arts and Entertainment district.” Even though the General Plan 2040 and the Downtown Specific Plan are the defining documents for downtown development, with the exception of one Commissioner, the Commission members completely ignored the Downtown Vallejo Specific Plan, and twisted the stipulations of the General Plan. 

Locating a high school in the middle of downtown is a poor use of real estate for both downtown, and for students. The guiding principles for developing downtown and the waterfront are to encourage activity 24/7, and to generate business activity. A school becomes a dead zone after classes, and lively as they might be, high school students lack the income to patronize restaurants and boutiques. The prohibitions of alcohol near schools would have a chilling effect on bars and restaurants. Our parking will also be affected with the influx of student drivers, staff, and pick/up drop off times. Patrons like to park closer to businesses not farther away. This school will not help to economically revitalize our downtown; it will hinder its growth. 

Relative to students, the building is inadequate. Compared to the indoor and outdoor space afforded in a neighborhood school of 86-110 sq ft per student, the downtown school would have 20 sq ft per student. The facility has a warming station instead of a cafeteria, and the multi-purpose room would alternate between indoor exercise classes and lunch. There are no outdoor facilities at all; physical education would rely on a cumbersome mix of indoor exercise machines and classes, along with a farcical claim of bussing students to Wilson Park or back to Elite’s Whitney Ave campus, plus having students jog on the waterfront. Founder Dr Bishop said Elite owns one van, but claimed she would buy more vans. That detail was not in the proposal. 

Safety is another key issue for the students that the Commission nor Elite has taken into consideration. The structure is a two story building. There was no mention of fire drills, earthquake drills, lock down drills, active shooter drills, etc. The school population will increase which will increase the need for exits. There also is the issue of traffic endangerment. Taking children and crossing Mare Island Way to jog at the Waterfront is highly dangerous and hazardous. The speed limit is 30 mph on Mare Island Way, but it has been seen in Vallejo that many drivers often exceed the speed limits and traffic code is not enforced. 

There's a reason why we have big campuses for schools. Children need ample space to learn and exercise. Bussing them to nearby parks, or having them jog at the Waterfront is subpar, ditto running a gym class in the lunchroom. There are other vacant VCUSD campuses that can be of use to Elite that are already set-up as schools, and can meet all the needs of students. The most important focus are the children. 

In the interests of Vallejo’s economic development, and in the interests of Vallejo’s students, we the citizens of Vallejo, California, strongly recommend that the decision to grant the permit be repealed and that the permit be withdrawn.

(This appeal of Elite Charter school to be located in the historic downtown arts & entertainment designated district will be presented before the City Council at the April 23rd city council meeting. The city council meeting will begin at 7:00pm in the city hall council chambers located at 555 Santa Clara Street. Please attend and let your voices be heard.)