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Board reverses earlier direction on housing and votes to retain Old Castro Valley Library as veterans/community center, directs $8.5M renovation exploration
Summary
Following staff studies that found housing infeasible without demolition and heavy cost, the board voted to retain the Old Castro Valley Library for community and veterans use, directed staff to explore a partnership with HARD, and signaled intent to consider allocating $8.5 million for renovation.
The Alameda County Board of Supervisors voted Oct. 9 to retain the former Castro Valley Library at 2055 Redwood Road for community and veterans services and to pursue renovation rather than pursuing dense affordable housing on the site.
Eileen Dalton, director of economic and civic development for the Community Development Agency, summarized site studies showing the building (about 10,270 square feet) is eligible as a historic resource under CEQA and that fitting housing on the site would require demolition, rezoning and a full environmental impact report. Dalton said an estimate to renovate the building to code and county standards is about $8.5 million; an affordable-housing option presented in studies was feasible only as a dense five- to six-story scheme that would have required significant additional local funding (staff estimated a local match in the $10–15 million range).
Supervisor Miley, who has long advocated preserving the landmark, said the community is strongly supportive of retaining the building for veterans and community use. “They are all united behind this building being retained for community and veteran services,” Miley said. The board discussed possible operational partnerships with the Hayward Area Recreation and Park District (HARD), which has operated county facilities under a long-term MOU in the past and signaled interest in operating and maintaining the site.
After a broad public comment record — largely in favor of preserving the structure — Supervisor Miley moved and Supervisor Tam seconded a motion to accept staff Recommendation 2: retain the Old Castro Valley Library for community and veterans use, consider allocating $8.5 million for renovation, and direct CDA to engage with HARD on a potential operations/maintenance partnership. The motion passed unanimously.
County staff said retaining the building and pursuing a partnership model (similar to the Cherryland Community Center) could allow the county to transfer operations and maintenance responsibilities to a local special district while the county funds capital renovation or finds co-funding sources. Staff and board members flagged the county’s constrained capital resources and the need to prioritize deferred-maintenance needs elsewhere; they directed staff to pursue all feasible funding and partnership options.
