Board names Option 4 preferred plan for Seaside social‑services campus, asks CAO to pursue funding partnerships

The Monterey County Board of Supervisors on Jan. 27 directed staff to include Option 4 — a three‑story new construction with underground parking, an integrated Monterey County Free Library branch and expanded community space — as the county’s preferred long‑term development plan for the 1281 Broadway Seaside social‑services parcel. The decision followed a multi‑hour review of a seven‑option analysis that ranged from limited renovation to full demolition and new construction, as well as lease and acquisition alternatives.

Staff presented seven concepts with preliminary estimates (range: renovation at roughly $16.3 million to the larger campus option at roughly $73.7 million based on conceptual per‑square‑foot costing). Public Works staff cautioned that these are conceptual estimates using 2022/2024 costing benchmarks and that design‑development work would be required to produce construction‑level cost estimates. Supervisors and staff stressed the need for a financing plan and urged collaboration with the City of Seaside to evaluate parking strategies and potential cost‑sharing. Members also requested concrete timelines for more detailed, engineered cost estimates (design‑development and construction documents) before committing to construction.

The board motion directed the CAO to include Option 4 in the facilities master plan, work collaboratively with the City of Seaside on design and parking objectives, and develop funding strategies that could include external partners so the county would not be solely responsible for debt. The board also asked staff to create a reuse/disposition plan for the existing 1281 Broadway building within three months of DSS exit, to avoid vacancy and blight. If Option 4 later proves infeasible, the motion allowed option 3 (a new two‑story DSS‑only building) to be considered as a backup.

Board members emphasized balancing the need for a long‑term, dignified service campus with fiscal prudence. Several supervisors asked staff to return with staged cost estimates: (1) design‑development level estimate and (2) construction‑document estimate. Staff said remaining planning funds would be used to refine the preferred option’s design and that a fuller financial plan would return to the board for approval.