LAKE COUNTY, Calif. – The Board of Supervisors on Tuesday gave county staff the go-ahead to finalize a plan in collaboration with the state that aims to provide affordable housing to hundreds of people as well as a new headquarters to the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday morning, State Sen. Mike McGuire was among the state and local officials who discussed the project, which is based on a proposed property swap between the county and the state of California.
In exchange for the Lakeport National Guard Armory at 1431 Hoyt Ave., which is being vacated after the guard unit consolidated with another one, the county will trade the state a 15.5-acre property at 15837 18th Ave. in Clearlake.
That property in Clearlake, in turn, is set to be developed with 100 new affordable housing units, officials said Tuesday.
The state will require, at minimum, that 50 percent of those units meet the “affordable” criteria, including 12.5 percent being very low, 12.5 percent being low and 25 percent being moderate, with units expected to range between one and three bedrooms, said Jason Kenney, deputy director of the state Department of General Services’ Real Estate Services Division.
McGuire told the board on Tuesday that the project is the result of an “incredible partnership” between local and state officials over the past two years.
“We all need a little bit of hope in our lives right about now,” said McGuire, referring to COVID-19, civil unrest and last week’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, adding he believes this project will bring hope, as well as a new headquarters for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office.
He said the 100 new homes will be adjacent to the city of Clearlake’s largest shopping center and Adventist Health Clear Lake Hospital.
The development, as it would be pointed out during the meeting, also will be situated closely to Woodland Community College’s Clear Lake Campus as well as a major new transit hub that will serve areas ranging from the Bay Area to Shasta County.
McGuire said the county and the sheriff’s office have had an interest in moving the agency into the state-owned armory, but the price tag had been too expensive. That meant they needed an innovative approach, which is what this proposal offers.
Once completed, the state will transfer the ownership of the armory to the sheriff’s office. He pointed out that the armory is on the same campus as the Lake County Jail and the county’s emergency operations center, offering the sheriff’s office operational efficiencies.
He said the armory will be an improvement over the sheriff’s current headquarters at 1220 Martin St. in Lakeport in that it doesn't leak or have foundation issues, and that it has a commercial kitchen, a vault and storage.
Closing the deal on the armory is dependent on the land swap for the housing development, McGuire said. Once that’s done, the armory’s keys could be turned over to the county later this spring.
The county’s 15.5-acre property in Clearlake – which once had been proposed for a veterans housing facility – will then be developed.
“It is a fantastic location for affordable housing,” said McGuire, adding, “You couldn't ask for a more central buildout.”
He said the state has had interest from three developers interested in building housing at the site. A developer is expected to be selected within the next 60 to 90 days and that, depending on the funding allocation, construction could start in 2022 or 2023.
McGuire said the county will give the state a 99-year lease on the land.
Development proposals due in February
Kenney referred to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s January 2019 executive order, which directed state agencies to identify excess state-owned property “for sustainable, innovative and cost-effective housing developments to address California’s shortage of affordable housing.”
He said with Lake County’s history of fires and housing needs, the project checks a number of boxes. “But it also is innovative.”
Kenney said additional legislative authority was needed to make the proposal work, and they got that in the last budget cycle.
He said the project wouldn’t have happened had McGuire, the sheriff and the county not worked to bring it forward. “The synergy has been fantastic here.”
The state is now in the solicitation phase for a developer. Kenney said final proposals are due Feb. 26, with three very qualified developers aiming for the city. The county and the city have been invited to be part of the proposal evaluation process, and Kenney said they are excited and eager to see the proposals.
Board Chair Bruno Sabatier, whose district includes the city of Clearlake, said it will probably be one of the biggest developments in the city of Clearlake in some time.
Sheriff Martin said of the effort, “I just can't possibly thank everybody enough.”
He said his department headquarters is very dated, and although there have been some improvements, it’s really not a suitable place for a law enforcement facility – but the armory is.
When he heard the National Guard Unit was consolidating and vacating the location, Martin said he wanted to jump on it. “It’s quite a good opportunity for us.”
The site will also offer the opportunity to have wildland fire response training courses, he said.
Martin said he’s looking forward to a place that the sheriff’s office can call home for many years. “I know we’re not done yet but this is a major step in getting there.”
Clearlake City Manager Alan Flora said this has been a great example of a real collaborative project.
“We’re looking forward to a great project,” Flora said.
Flora recognized McGuire’s leadership and commitment, noting that he refused to let anything slip and used his influence to make sure it happens.
County Administrative Officer Carol Huchingson said it’s an understatement to say that the project team is enthusiastic.
She said staff was seeking direction from the board to authorize county staff to take all the steps to seal the deal, adding that they will need the guiding hand of County Counsel Anita Grant.
“We’re excited,” Huchingson said.
Supervisor Moke Simon said the project will benefit the entire county and open up other office space for the county government.
The newest board member, Jessica Pyska, noted, “This is so exciting,” and fellow board members Tina Scott and EJ Crandell both thanked McGuire.
McGuire said it’s the Lake County way to find solutions when challenges are in the way. “We’re just about to cross the finish line.”
He also noted that this will be the first rural development in this state housing program, as the Department of General Services has so far been very focused on urban areas.
Sabatier said Clearlake is an opportunity zone, and with these positive new developments going in, he suggested it’s a catalyst for bringing other commercial developments to the region.
Asked about the timeline for the armory’s conversion to the sheriff’s headquarters, Martin said it will be a significant project that will take a few years.
Right now he and county staff are looking for funding and grants to pay for the improvements.
The board gave staff unanimous consensus to proceed with finalizing the land swap.
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County to move forward on land swap for affordable housing project, new sheriff’s headquarters
- Elizabeth Larson
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