Former Lutheran High School Site Could Become 121-Home Development

• Lewis Homes is proposing a 121-home residential community at the former Lutheran High School campus in La Verne, California.
• The project will redevelop a nine-acre property located at 3960 Fruit Street.
• Plans include a mix of townhomes and detached single-family homes ranging from approximately 1,840 to 2,300 square feet.
• One existing structure, the campus gymnasium, will be preserved as part of the redevelopment.

What Is Planned for the Former School Site

A former school campus in La Verne could soon be transformed into a new residential community as Lewis Homes advances plans for the Villages at Fruit Street project. The proposed development would replace the former Lutheran High School campus at 3960 Fruit Street, a nine-acre property that ceased operations in 2023. The redevelopment reflects a growing trend across Southern California where underutilized school properties are being converted into housing to help meet regional demand. If approved, the project would deliver 121 homes through a combination of townhomes and detached single-family residences.

What the Residential Development Includes

The proposed community will feature a mix of two- and three-story residential buildings designed to accommodate a range of household sizes. Floor plans will include two-, three-, and four-bedroom homes ranging from approximately 1,840 square feet to 2,300 square feet. The residences will be organized around a network of private driveways, creating a neighborhood-style layout within the former campus grounds. Unlike many redevelopment projects that completely clear existing sites, the proposal will preserve the property's gymnasium, allowing a portion of the campus's history to remain integrated into the new community.

What the Design Looks Like

The project is being designed by WHA, also known as William Hezmalhalch Architects. Plans call for Mediterranean Revival-inspired architecture across the community, utilizing a mix of townhome and single-family housing forms. The design aims to create a cohesive residential environment while fitting into the broader character of the surrounding La Verne neighborhood. Conceptual plans show homes arranged throughout the site with internal circulation routes and open areas replacing much of the former educational campus infrastructure.

What Happens Next for the Project

The Villages at Fruit Street is currently undergoing environmental review and will require several approvals before construction can begin. Among the necessary entitlements are amendments to the city's general plan, along with other development approvals. Once permits and approvals are secured, construction is expected to take approximately two years to complete. The project joins a growing number of residential developments being proposed on former school properties throughout Los Angeles County, particularly within communities across the San Gabriel Valley.

What This Means for La Verne's Housing Market

The redevelopment of the former Lutheran High School campus represents an opportunity to add new for-sale housing inventory in a market where developable land remains limited. By converting an underutilized institutional property into housing, the project could help address demand for family-sized homes while giving new life to a site that has remained vacant since the school's closure. As more communities explore adaptive reuse and redevelopment opportunities, projects like Villages at Fruit Street are becoming an increasingly common strategy for introducing new housing without expanding into undeveloped land.