Photo Gallery: Signing Ceremony at Stoneman Site

A ceremonial signing of the city's 99-year lease of the Stoneman property from the took place Monday night on the steps of Stoneman School.

While the agreement for the city to lease the property long-term was already executed at the and $2 million of the $5 million has already been wired, said San Marino City Manager Matt Ballantyne, the signing was for ceremonial and historical purposes.

"The first time I ever saw children in San Marino schools whas when I saw kids in Stoneman Elementary School," said Board of Education President Chris Norgaard. "Much has changed in Stoneman since then and much has changed in San Marino schools and our city but in the most important ways I think nothing has changed and that is the community recognition and support of excellence in education on one hand and the unique special nature of our community architecturally and in terms of our values aesthetically on the other."

The SMUSD faces a projected and the city needed a place to house the Recreation Department long-term so Mayor Allan Yung called the lease a "win-win".

After the San Marino Board of Education voted March 8 to approve the city's second bid to lease the Stoneman site--$5 million for 99 years--the San Marino City Council voted March 9 to enter into an agreement to lease the property from the SMUSD.

Since the Stoneman land was declared surplus and cannot be sold to profit SMUSD operational expenses, the land was leased but the city is in talks with legislators such as local to change the law so the city can purchase the site.