County Facilities – What’s Coming in 2020 and Beyond

The Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk and Archives office in Santee.

There’s something exciting about moving into new digs. Often it’s a step up from where you just left, whether it’s new paint, carpet or more elbow room.

Here at the County, you may have felt the same way after moving into a brand-new building or renovated office – a nice employee benefit to the County’s ongoing efforts to construct new facilities. The overall goal? Provide technologically up-to-date, energy-efficient and better designed facilities to help us help the public.

After a banner year of new buildings in 2018, grand openings took a back seat to groundbreakings and construction in 2019. But the Santa Ysabel Nature Center opened its doors last month. The 6,000-square-foot nature center includes interpretive and educational exhibits, a conference room for up to 100 people, an outdoor patio, an information area, restrooms and staff offices. 

And no offices here, but fun to mention, the new Sweetwater Bike Park opened Jan. 4 in Bonita.   

So, what else is coming up in 2020? Take a look below:

Openings

Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk East County Operations and Archive: The new 23,900-square-foot facility in Santee will celebrate its grand opening in March. The current El Cajon facility is located inside a converted bank that was built in 1957. The new structure will include the County’s first formal archive for historical documents plus a wedding room and outdoor arbor. The site will also house some Tax Collector staff.  

The Sheriff’s Technology and Information Center at the County Operations Center.

Sheriff’s Technology and Information Center (STIC): The new construction project for the Sheriff’s Data Services and Wireless Services Divisions is expected to wrap next month. This project replaces the last two remaining buildings of the original 1960s County Operations Center campus. The new center, next to the Emergency Operations Center, will include a 40,000-square-foot administration building, a 7,000-square-foot technology building and a new radio tower to replace the existing one. The larger facility will include a 2,000-square-foot media center that can be used for news conferences during regional disasters.  

New Beginnings  

Southeastern Live Well Center: The County is expected to break ground for a new Live Well Center at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and Market Street in the fall. The 80,000-square-foot facility will consolidate the existing Southeast Family Resource Center, Public Health, and Mental Health Services into one location. The center will also house Probation staff, provide family strengthening services, and offer office and meeting spaces to community groups. Completion is scheduled for late 2022.

Construction at North Coastal Live Well Center in Oceanside.

North Coastal Live Well Center: Construction is underway for a new 100,000-square-foot Live Well Center in Oceanside’s Ocean Ranch Corporate Centre. Health and Human Services will occupy the building under a lease once construction is completed this fall. The center will include a Family Resource Center, Child Welfare Services, Aging and Independence Services and Public Health. Staff from leased facilities at Union Plaza Court in Oceanside will relocate to the new complex late this year.  

Ramona Family Resource Live Well Center: Plans are in the works to build a new 8,000-square-foot zero net energy facility to house a Family Resource Live Well Center on the Ramona Intergenerational Community Campus. In addition to self-sufficiency programs, the center will include a Public Health Center, Behavioral Health and Child Welfare services. Procurement of a design-build contract will begin this year with a construction completion date in 2023.  

Rendering for new Ohio Street Probation Office.

Ohio Street Probation Office: Construction for a new facility to replace the old Ohio Street office could begin this fall. The new building will be designed to provide rehabilitation and treatment support services. Completion is expected in fall 2021. 

Emergency Vehicle Operations Course: Construction will begin early this year on the new operations course in East Otay Mesa. Completion is anticipated in late 2021. 

Mt. Laguna Fire Station #49: Design for a new fire station will be completed this year and submitted to the Board of Supervisors for funding. Currently, fire station staff is working from an aging federally owned fire station. The new station will be co-located with an existing DPW Road Station and include a two-story building of approximately 5,000 square feet, two vehicle bays and living quarters for up to six personnel.    

Palomar Mountain Fire Station Living Quarters: Design for the new living quarters will take place this year and then be submitted to the Board for funding. The project calls for a 1,900-square-foot living space for six personnel behind the existing apparatus bay. An office in the vehicle bay will be also renovated along with other site improvements.  

San Diego Juvenile Justice Campus: The Kearny Mesa site will be renovated and redeveloped starting this year. The first phase will construct a 96-bed Urban Camp, featuring a campus-like environment which will include four residential buildings, a school, career and technical education building, gymnasium, dining hall and exercise/sports fields. Additionally, it will include new buildings for staff, a kitchen and services to support youth at the Camp and Juvenile Hall. Buildings in the first of three phases will be ready for occupancy late next year.    

Lakeside Library: Construction for a new library in Lakeside is expected to begin late this year. The approximately 17,000-square-foot facility will triple the size of the current branch built in 1962. The zero-net-energy facility will include children and teen spaces, plus a community room. The new facility is expected to open in the fall of 2021.

Board of Supervisors Chambers

Major Renovations and Remodeling

County Administration Center: The newly renovated Board chambers re-opened for business on Jan. 14. Highlights include new seating in a different configuration, a new dais, different flooring and an enhanced A/V system with new cameras and monitors. The rest of the historic building is also under renovation and has a completion date in 2024. 

Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library Expansion: The expansion is already underway and when completed, the branch will boast a new children’s area, a larger area for teens and various interior improvements. The project is expected to end in April.

Planning Stages

Casa de Oro Library: The County expects to acquire a new site this year to build an approximately 15,000-square-foot library to replace the current branch located in a strip mall. The new facility will include for the first time a community room as well as specific areas for teens and children.  

Health Services Complex Replacement: Planning is underway to redevelop the Health Services Complex in the Midway District into a County Live Well Campus. The project would replace the Rosecrans facility, consolidate associated HHSA functions in the new building and provide a parking structure. The site will also be evaluated for the addition of affordable housing.  

South County Animal Shelter: Plans include building a new 20,000-square-foot building to replace the current shelter in Bonita. Currently, General Services is conducting conceptual site studies for a new shelter site.

For more information on planned and proposed construction projects, see General Services’ Current Capital Projects list.