South City Civic Center gets review

Beginning public assessments of the facility financed primarily with revenue generated by a sales tax increase marks a pivotal step for the proposal at the intersection of Chestnut Avenue and Antoinette Lane, said Assistant City Manager Marianne Lee.

“This check-in gives us confirmation that we are on the right path as we are moving forward,” said Lee, who estimated the process for planning and building the $210 million project is approximately 30% completed.

At the upcoming discussion, Lee said the focus will be directed toward assuring the police station will be functional according to law enforcement needs.

Station plans were preliminarily examined Tuesday, April 16, by the city’s Design Review Board and much of the feedback was positive, said Lee, who admitted the facility’s design is simpler to dissect than the rest of the project.

“I think the police station is easier because the building is function and operation driven,” she said. “We are not asking the community what should go inside. I think the harder effort has been with the main library and parks and recreation building.”

Planning the rest of the project is especially challenging because more input is offered by residents, officials and others seeking to assure the facility meets the community’s needs while also preserving its aesthetic appeal, said Lee.

“The common thing we’ve been hearing is this is a big investment for the city so let’s make it a signature project that we can be proud of, but let’s also invest wisely,” she said.

Considering the unique challenges associated with each component of the project, officials agreed to split the planning process into two phases. The police station is ahead of the rest of the proposal, and should the planning review proceed as expected, officials are anticipating putting it out to bid by the fall with an eye on breaking ground early next year.

The rest of the project is about eight months behind the police station, said Lee, as officials continue refining designs to assure its look and feel are aligned with its usefulness and function.

“We feel pretty good we have the program right … now the part we have to focus on is the skin of the building — what it looks like,” said Lee, referring to the library, parks and recreation building, council chambers and other community amenities.

Following a public examination of the second phase of the project, Lee said she anticipates it could go out to construction firms for bidding later this year. Officials are hopeful to break ground on the 70,000-square-foot facility next summer. The final phase of work will be rebuilding the fire station currently located at the nearby Municipal Services Building, which could begin in 2022.

For the main campus design, Lee said officials are committed to assuring the project meets the high expectations of the community that it will both look good and work well.

“We are trying to find that right balance,” she said.

The South San Francisco Planning Commission meets 7 p.m. Thursday, April 18, in the Municipal Services Building, 33 Arroyo Drive.

austin@smdailyjournal.com

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