County Buildings – What’s New for 2017 and Beyond
/Where will County employees find themselves in 2017?
The workspaces are about to change for hundreds, even thousands, of County workers – maybe even you!
General Services has been working hard on a master list to improve and modernize our facilities. They’ll be more functional and efficient, which means we can provide better customer service.
Here are some highlights:
Openings
Imperial Beach Library
Scheduled Opening: Spring, 2017
Project: The existing library branch was knocked down to make way for a new 14,000-square-foot, zero net energy facility that is almost three times the size of the old building. The project replaces a community room with a larger, 2,000-square-foot community room built on adjoining land donated by the City of Imperial Beach.
State Courthouse
Scheduled Opening: Spring, 2017
Project: The courthouse is a state project but it’s included here because it will affect hundreds of County workers ranging from the Sheriff’s Department to the District Attorney’s Office (or any of us who get jury duty downtown). The new facility will have 71 courtrooms handling criminal, civil and family court matters. The project consolidates the Downtown Courthouse, the Madge Bradley Court facility and Family Court, also located downtown. The current sites are being assessed for potential private development. A remodel is underway in the Hall of Justice to move County staff with Revenue and Recovery, Child Support, and HHSA from the current courthouse. A remodel of the Madge Bradley building will accommodate Sheriff Court Services staff members who are staying and not moving to the new Courthouse. Remaining Child Support employees will move to leased space in Kearny Mesa in the spring.
Housing and Community Development Services
Rendering of new Housing and Community Development Services office.Scheduled Completion: May 2017
Project: The old 29,000-square-foot building in Kearny Mesa was taken down to the studs and completely renovated. Staff members moved to a temporary location last April. When they move back in, they’ll see a fully renovated and reconfigured building with new efficient mechanical and electrical systems.
Child Welfare Services
Scheduled Completion: Early Summer 2017
Project: Last March, the Board of Supervisors approved a new seven-year lease for a 69,000-square-foot building for Child Welfare Services in Kearny Mesa, consolidating operations currently in a County-owned building in Linda Vista and a lease space in Kearny Mesa. Improvements will be completed in time for employees to move in this summer.
New Beginnings
Sheriff’s Crime Lab
Scheduled Completion: Late summer 2018
Project: Construction is underway on a new 151,000-square-foot facility at the County Operations Center to house a new crime lab, space for Sheriff’s property and evidence materials, and administrative offices. The new project will move the crime lab closer to the Medical Examiner’s office.
Construction on the new Crime Lab.
North Coastal Regional Center:
Scheduled Completion: Summer 2018
Project: Demolition is expected this summer on the existing buildings at the Oceanside site so construction can begin on a new 36,000-square-foot facility this fall. The building will go up on the existing Regional Center/Public Health Center site and it will consolidate behavioral health, public health and administration in one place. In the meantime, the County has leased 17,522-square-feet of temporary space at 3609 Ocean Ranch Blvd. in Oceanside to house HHSA staff during the demolition and construction of the new facility. Employees are expected to move into the temporary space in February. A site search is underway for a larger north coastal Family Resource Center as well.
Santa Ysabel Nature Center:
Scheduled Completion: Late 2018
Project: Construction could begin in late 2017 on a 6,500-square-foot nature center for the Santa Ysabel Preserves off Highway 79 in Santa Ysabel. The building will include space for interpretive and educational exhibits, a room for weddings and other events for up to 100 people, Wi-Fi, restrooms, offices, an information area and more.
Pine Valley Fire Station:
Scheduled Completion: Summer 2018
Project: Plans are in the works to replace the Pine Valley Fire Station with a new 13,000- square-foot station that will feature sleeping quarters and four bays for emergency vehicles. Construction is expected to begin in late summer 2017.
Borrego Springs Library and Community Park:
Scheduled Completion: Fall/Winter 2018
Project: Construction will begin in fall 2017 on a new 13,500-square-foot library branch that will be six times the size of the current leased facility. The project includes a sheriff substation and a 16-acre community park on adjoining land. Plans for the park include play structures, court sports and picnic areas.
Major Renovations and Remodeling
East Mesa Rock Mountain Detention Facility Complex: Starting in spring 2017, the former Corrections Corporation of America detention facility will be retrofitted and renovated to bring it into the County detention system. Changes will include a new integrated electronic security system.
Mills Building: Five floors will be remodeled and reconfigured to varying degrees for improved operations for HHSA staff. Completion is expected in March.
Solana Beach Library: The branch is a shared facility with the Earl Warren Middle School. General Services is working with the San Dieguito Union High School to provide a new meeting room in addition to expanding and updating the branch. Completion is expected in summer 2017.
El Cajon Family Resource Center: The third phase of renovations to update the facility is underway. Current renovations include office and open office spaces, conference and a staff break room as well as upgrades to the major mechanical systems. Renovations could be completed in summer 2017.
Hillcrest Mid-City Crisis Stabilization Facility: Construction could begin in February for a major renovation and remodeling project at the Hillcrest Mid-City Stabilization Facility located in San Diego. The improvements will expand crisis stabilization services for children and youth. This project is comprehensive for the approximately 8,059-square-foot building and includes replacing all windows, doors and floor coverings. A new central nurse’s station, restrooms and kitchen will also be created. The facility will get a new roof and the mechanical, electrical, plumbing, fire suppression and fire alarm systems will be upgraded.
Planning Stages
South County Animal Shelter in Bonita, Phase 1: The current one-story 10,000 square-foot kennel building will be torn down and replaced with a new two-story structure as phase one of a three-phase replacement of the shelter. The project will include the new kennels, a medical facility and holding area.
Rendering of Animal Care Facility in BonitaLakeside Library: The County is in negotiations to buy a site for a new 15,000-square-foot library which would triple the size of the current branch built in 1962. The new facility will include children and teen spaces, plus a community room.
Casa de Oro Library: A site search is underway for a place to build a new 15,000 square-foot library to replace the current branch located at a strip mall. The new facility will include for the first time a community room as well as specific areas for teens and children.
Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk East County Operations and Archive: Construction is expected to start in 2018 on a new 23,900-square foot facility in Santee. The current El Cajon facility is located inside a converted bank that was built in 1957. The new structure will include modern archival storage and maintenance of significant historical documents. Completion is scheduled for mid-2019.
Kettner/Beech Property: Proposals for development are being sought for the vacant land adjoining the Cedar/Kettner parking structure site for a private residential and commercial project. Construction could possibly start in 2018.
For more information on planned and proposed constructions projects, see General Services’ Current Capital Projects List.