The County of Humboldt is moving on from acquiring the properties on 4th Street in Eureka to pursue other lots that better fit its long-term vision of creating more centralized, campus-style facilities for county services. The county had been discussing terms of an agreement with representatives of residents who live on these properties, however, negotiations were unsuccessful and the Board of Supervisors today in closed session chose to go in another direction.
The properties on 4th Street were always intended to eventually be converted to a facility with co-located services such as a one-stop building for permitting services. In the short-term, the county intended these properties to serve as a temporary parking location during construction of the Community Corrections Reentry Resource Center in the gravel lot next to the jail. There will still be need for additional temporary parking during construction of this facility, and the county will continue to look for solutions.
The county will also continue looking for properties for the already-identified priorities for a one-stop permitting center and administrative complex. By spring 2020, the county will be discussing with the community plans to move forward on more campus projects that could be developed within and around Eureka. This will be an opportunity to go through a deliberate planning process that would bring related services and departments closer together.
There are many benefits to improving the physical placement of county services, and in the end, it will result in better services, less travel and less confusion for residents as they do business with the county. Planning and constructing more campus-style facilities would also make better, more welcoming work spaces for county employees, and it would make work and travel more efficient, which saves energy. Newer facilities will also reduce energy consumption and maintenance costs, provide economic stimulus through job creation, as well as enhance opportunities for civic beautification and community development.
The county looks forward to working with the community and all of its stakeholders on planning the future of county facilities.
###
For more information, contact:
Tom Mattson
Director of Public Works
707-445-7491