The Civic Center plan, as conceived by Lilian Rice, called for the entire block on the northwest side of Paseo Delicias from Avenida de Acacias to La Granada to be set aside for a schoolhouse. In 1924, Rice designed an impressive complex with classrooms and a two-story civic auditorium and bell-tower, which were never built.

In 1924, workmen erected only the first part, a small three-room schoolhouse, at the corner of Paseo Delicias and La Granada for pupils of the Alisa School District so the elementary school age children would not have to travel outside Rancho Santa Fe to attend school. This L-shaped building with a red tile roof and adobe walls featured rooted corridors and had a large playground at the rear. The school served the community during the 1920s and 1930s and contained two classrooms, offices, restrooms and a basement.

In the 1930s, Corinne Griffith, a silent-movie star, purchased the entire block including the empty school building and converted it to commercial uses. Over the years, the school structure housed many different enterprises including the U.S. Post Office, a childrens' shop at the main front corner, and later "Rosie's," an antique shop known over a wide area. Other businesses included a bookstore, travel agency, liquor store and pantry, and a barber shop in the basement. A dentist built an addition in the rear. Rosie's eventually became the Torrey Pines Bank.

The first block on the left side as viewed by the Inn was originally set aside for a school, playground, and civic auditorium. In the second block, also primarily residential, Lilian Rice created an interesting group of four townhouses. These unique dwellings also helped create the illusion of visiting a community in another time and place.

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