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PCGC – Capital Improvements

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1. Why did Placer County demolish the Senior Center?

The Placer County Board of Supervisors in December 2020 approved the demolition of certain buildings at the Placer County Government Center, including those buildings previously occupied by the Senior Center, which was consistent with the PCGC  Master Plan Update.  

The sites previously occupied by these outdated buildings are in the mixed-use district. The area is now designated for greater flexibility for planned uses, including a mixture of potential multi-family residential uses and commercial office uses.

At the time of the Placer County Government Center Master Plan Update planning and study, the Senior Center had been vacated. Most of the buildings that had been occupied by the Senior Center were over 78 years old. These outdated buildings can be unsafe to occupy and/or costly to maintain or repair.  

These buildings have unreinforced brick walls, outdated electrical, heating, ventilation, roofing systems, non-insulated walls, roof, windows, ADA issues and more.

The adjoining Burback Hall was surrounded by these outdated buildings was 30+/- years old , however Placer County Building Maintenance rated it as a C/D rating on a scale of A-D with D being the worst building condition.

2. Will Placer County build the multi-generational community center identified in its feasibility study?

Even though the county has yet to commit funding for a multigenerational community center, the county has sponsored a study to better understand the needs, opportunities and identify the feasibility and costs associated with a community center in Auburn.

The 18-month-long process culminated in November 2018, which brought together educational, governance, recreation and senior representatives from within the Auburn community.  

Our team held five advisory committee meetings and three community workshops to engage stakeholders in understanding the need, viability and interest. 

The study confirmed the need for a multigenerational community center as well as two options for consideration moving forward:

Concept 1 – Ground-up new construction center as part of the PCGC. Providing opportunity of a custom design and project phasing based upon available funding.

Concept 2 – Opportunity for a long-term lease arrangement with Parkside Church. Originally designed as the Parkside Community Center, this facility has never attained its full buildout and, at the time of the study was only utilized for activities a few nights during the week and Sunday mornings.

The study identified project funding scenarios including potential general obligation bonds, certificates of participation, development impact fees, private contributions, and gap funding.  A local parcel tax was identified as a potential, difficult to obtain new source of revenue.  

Our team also launched an online survey to gauge public interest, beyond the community workshops, to help determine a preferred concept option and possible project finance mechanism.

3. Which types of programs and events can be held at the center?

Programs and events hosted at the community center could include senior, teen and youth programs, childcare, café, multipurpose meetings, theatrical events, classrooms, Maker labs, physical fitness activities as well as administrative spaces.

4. When will the Mercy Housing development on the campus be complete?

The project is scheduled to be complete in October 2021.

5. Who will be eligible to live in the new Mercy Housing development?

The 79-unit apartment and townhouse development at the PCGC will boast three three-story apartment buildings and seven two-story attached townhomes that will be available to people with a wide range of incomes, ranging from 30–60% of the area median income. It will also include a multipurpose community building, parking and common green spaces with outdoor play equipment. Learn more about the affordable housing development, here.

6. Is the DeWitt Theater planned for demolition under the PCGC Master Plan Update?

The former DeWitt Theater was identified for demolition to create development sites for a development area within the PCGC Master Plan.

However, prior to demolition, projects within the mixed-use designation that identify the removal of the theater will be subject to a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors. 

This requirement is contained in a development standard of the PCGC Master Plan Update which currently sunsets on July 1, 2021.   This date may be extended by the Board of Supervisors.

7. What is co-housing?

The genesis of co-housing communities follows a housing model which consists of private homes strategically positioned around common areas to maximize social interaction and community support between neighbors. 

A co-housing model supports energy-efficient design, sustainable development, waste reduction, community gardens, and creation of community gathering places.  

Future owners will participate in the creation of their community through planning meetings, design input, and financial contribution to pre-development and development costs.

8. Why is Placer County considering a co-housing project on the PCGC campus? When will it be built?

Co-housing at PCGC could provide much-needed diversity in potential housing options and accessibility, meeting a need for a range of income levels and household types from family-oriented to senior supportive.

9. What’s the purpose of this new feasibility study?

Griffin | Swinerton was retained to prepare a PCGC feasibility and strategy report for potential development in the PCGC private development area and for the Placer County Administrative Building located on Fulweiler Ave in Auburn.

Staff anticipate that the report will assess market demand, real estate trends, development costs and identify potential development types and uses.

We anticipate that Griffin | Swinerton will prepare visual concepts of these potential development approaches.

10. How will the community be able to provide input into possible future uses the report identifies?

Community presentations at public meetings will be held to share study findings and visual concepts. Community members are encouraged to provide feedback. This study is currently in development and public meetings will be announced in the future.

11. What does the master plan mean for moving forward with redevelopment plans?

The master plan envisions potential new campus amenities like a community and event center and community central green; consolidation of county buildings to provide an intuitive navigational experience for visitors; a wellness-oriented work environment for employees to promote walkability; open space to help preserve the area’s natural foothill esthetic; a DeWitt heritage area to honor the campus’s rich history; and possible non-county land use opportunities such as mixed-use residential housing, hotel and commercial retailers. 

Under the plan, the County Executive Office and Board of Supervisors chambers, along with related offices, are envisioned to potentially move from their current location in Auburn and join other county services at the PCGC campus.

The first development will meet various types of housing needs, such as multi-family and workforce housing. The Mercy Housing Affordable Housing Project is underway and the Health and Human Services Center is scheduled to commence in Spring 2022. Demolition has begun to prepare development sites for potential future development.

12. What are the next steps in implementing development plans outlined in the PCGC Master Plan Update?

Demolition of outdated buildings is currently underway.

13. What changes has Placer County made to the PCGC campus since taking possession of it in the 1970s?

The Placer County Government Center continues to update facilities to provide services to community members, including: the Finance and Administration Building, Animal Services Center, Children’s Emergency Shelter, Community Development and Resource Center, Auburn Justice Center, Auburn Jail and Kitchen, Juvenile Detention Facility, and entering into ground Leases for tenants like Home Depot and Mercy Housing.

14. What use does Placer County have planned for the “Domes” facilities located on Fulweiler Avenue in Auburn once staff working there are relocated to the PCGC campus?

Griffin|Swinerton was retained to prepare a PCGC Feasibility and Strategy Report for potential development in the PCGC Private Development Area and the Fulweiler “Domes” site. The Scope of Work provides for community presentations  at public meetings where the study would be presented and visual concepts shared for input. This study is in development and future public meetings have not yet been scheduled.

15. When will construction of the new Health and Human Services Center begin?

Construction for the new Health and Human Services Center will begin early 2022. The facility is estimated to open in Spring 2024.

16. Where will clients receive their services during the construction period and how long until the new facility is available to the public?

HHS clients will receive their services from current facilities until the HHS Center is complete. Other than some construction road closures that will require road detours at the PCGC, no change to services or care is anticipated.

17. When do you anticipate Board of Supervisors meetings to migrate to PCGC?

We anticipate Board of Supervisors Meetings to potentially take place at the PCGC campus by Spring 2024. 

The HHS Center is identified in the proposed PCGC Master Plan Update to consolidate existing Auburn HHS staff and services in a single location at PCGC that would complement staff and service nodes located in Rocklin and North Lake Tahoe. HHS staff would be relocated to the new building, freeing up space at the Community Development Resource Center to accommodate staff located at the “Domes”.

Our Clerk-Recorder-Elections Office is scheduled to move to their new facility located on Atherton Road in Rocklin by the Fall of 2022. This move will free up space in the Larry Oddo Finance and Administration Building at the PCGC. This space will also accommodate staff located at the Placer County Administration Center on Fulweiler Avenue, which is anticipated to occur in Spring 2023.

18. What is the status of older DeWitt buildings with an historic designation?

The DeWitt General Hospital Historic District (designation based on national Register of Historic Places designation listing on 2-12-16) was considered in the PCGC Master Plan Update EIR’s. The Update identified the retention of 15 of the DeWitt General Hospital Historic District buildings. The remaining buildings were analyzed for demolition over the life of the Master Plan Update. The buildings to be demolished allow for construction of new facilities. Photographic recordation of the buildings throughout the PCGC property was competed in 2004. This recordation meets Historic American Building Survey material standards. Additionally, the County established the DeWitt History Museum within the building located at 2995 Richardson Drive. This building, used for officer’s quarters during the hospital era, The museum includes photographs, artifacts, and exhibits that provide information on the various uses of the property, from its purchase by the federal government as a WWII hospital, its subsequent purchase by the state Department of Mental Hygiene as a state hospital, and its most current function in the PCGC. On April 23, 2019, the Board of Supervisors certified the EIR and adopted a Mitigation Monitoring Reporting Program.

19. How much revenue is anticipated to be generated in the surrounding businesses of North Auburn?

Similar to the Home Depot project, rental income, in-lieu property taxes, and sales taxes would be generated by potential private development. These revenues are dependent on businesses sales, property values, and lease terms with the county.