OCEANSIDE — The city of Oceanside has awarded a $3.25 million contract to Fordyce Construction to renovate the historic Crown Heights Resource Center, a project that will temporarily close the facility for at least a year.
The City Council approved the contract for the rehabilitation, which will shift the center’s services to nearby locations during the 12-month closure.
The nearly century-old building, designed by noted architect Irving Gill in 1930, was identified as requiring significant repairs following a historic facility assessment. Issues include cracks in walls, vegetation growth indoors, exterior wall damage, water pooling on the roof, an unstable electrical breaker, and upgrades needed to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Principal Engineer Victor Velasco highlighted several ADA compliance issues, including a kitchenette and restrooms that are not accessible and an ADA parking space without a compliant route to the building’s entrance.
The project will encompass both interior and exterior renovations while preserving the building’s historic character. According to the city, restoration efforts will minimize structural changes while addressing critical repairs.
Interior upgrades will include ADA-compliant, all-gender restrooms, an expanded kitchenette, an exterior-accessible electrical room, ceiling repairs, and mechanical, electrical, and plumbing updates. Original wooden flooring and interior hardware will also be restored.
Exterior work will feature restoration of the starburst window and door panels, new fencing, a roof-mounted HVAC system, ADA-compliant parking and building access, and updated landscaping and irrigation.
The total project cost is $4.06 million, including a 15% contingency and expenses for project management, construction management and inspections. Funding will come from city resources, Community Development Block Grant funds and the American Rescue Plan Act.
“This is a wonderful, wonderful project,” Mayor Esther Sanchez said. “It’s historic, and it’s a great center for the community.”
Sanchez noted that the project could have been less expensive had it been undertaken a decade ago.
The center, listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1994, opened in 2001 after an earlier restoration. It has since served as a vital resource for the Crown Heights neighborhood.
“Anyone who spends time in that neighborhood knows that the center is the heart of the community,” said Councilmember Jimmy Figueroa.
During the renovation, modular units at the Brooks Street pocket park at Brooks Street and Country Club Lane will house Housing Services, while youth programs will be relocated to North County Lifeline’s “La Casita” at 402 Brooks Street.
Councilmember Eric Joyce, whose district includes Crown Heights, emphasized the importance of maintaining the center’s programs during the closure.
“It’s a long time for the center to be closed,” Joyce said, noting its heavy use by the community. He also urged staff to explore closing the street in front of the center for scheduled annual events during the renovation. City Manager Jonathan Borrego said options would be considered.
“I want us to do everything that we possibly can to make sure our community is taken care of,” Joyce said.
Figueroa described the project as “long overdue” for the neighborhood.
The renovations are expected to be completed by early 2025.
