Current CVSan Project
Center Street Project
In 2013 Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) acquired a 73,000-square foot property located at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Center Street for $1,500,000. This property was formerly owned by the California Department of Transportation and was surplused by the State of California.
CVSan plans to develop this site into a 19,795-square foot, two-story building that would provide office space and other facilities such as equipment storage, conference rooms, amenities for employees (i.e.: kitchen, break room, shower, and lockers), and a public counter for the CVSan Engineering Department. This estimated $8 million project (2018 cost estimate) will include LEED-certified architecture and Bay-Friendly landscaping.
On October 1, 2019, CVSan’s Board of Directors awarded the contract for professional architectural services to Dahlin Group. Dahlin Group was one of three architectural firms that interviewed in June 2019.
CVSan anticipates the project will be ready for construction bid in Spring 2021.
CVSan released a Draft Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration (IS-MND) for CVSan's O&E Building Project (project) for review and comment to all applicable agencies, organizations, and interested persons (reviewers). The Notice of Intent (NOI) to Adopt a Draft IS-MND complied with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Draft IS-MND was circulated for a 30-day review period. The specific posted comment period was from March 11, 2020, to April 10, 2020, at 4:00 p.m
Document Availability: Copies of this IS-MND are available for public review at the CVSan office at 21040 Marshall Street in Castro Valley.
Access an online version of the Draft Initial Study – Mitigated Negative Declaration for the proposed project here.
Access an online version of the Draft IS-MND Appendices for the proposed project here.
For agendas and minutes from Center Street Committee Meetings related to this project can be found here.
To view the most recent Center Street Property Information Guide can be found in the document center at the bottom of this page.
Center Street FAQs:
1. How will Castro Valley Sanitary District (CVSan) pay for the new Operations and Engineering (O&E) building? Are rates going to be raised to pay for it?
The new O&E building will be built bond free with no new debt. CVSan adheres to a strict annual budgeting process and works under a long-range financial plan. This enables CVSan to pay for the construction of the new O&E building out of cash reserves and by using proceeds from the sale of the current CVSan main office located on Marshall Street.
I heard the current CVSan building on Marshall Street is only 23 years old, why does CVSan need a new building?
The current Marshall Street location is undersized for both staff and operations. Regulations at the local and state levels have increased minimum staffing levels over the past two-plus decades. CVSan has had to increase staffing levels to be in compliance with these new requirements and regulations. The number of CVSan staff members has grown by 210% since the current building located on Marshall Street was built in 1997. In addition to the staff growth experienced over the past 23 years, the new O&E building will be able to accommodate future staff growth for the next 50 years. As Castro Valley continues to grow, the new O&E building will be able to meet the community's needs. This is part of CVSan's responsibility for future planning.
As service and operational demands have increased over the past two decades, CVSan operations and equipment needs are larger than its current operating space permits. In addition, having the ability to do minor maintenance and service on CVSan vehicles on site will decrease costs of operations and ensure that rates are being put to best use.
How much is it going to cost to buy the land from California Department of Transportation, they haven't used it in years but with the recent real estate boom can CVSan afford that as well as the construction costs?
CVSan already owns the property. In 2013, CVSan acquired the 73,000-square foot property located at the intersection of Castro Valley Boulevard and Center Street for $1,500,000. This property was formerly owned by the California Department of Transportation and was surplused by the State of California. Since its use by the California Department of Transportation, the property has been vacant and has become an eyesore to the community. The new O&E building will visually enhance the Center Street site by having native landscaping features for the community to enjoy. Both the Center Street and Marshall Street sites will be improved by relocating vehicle storage and maintenance out of street view.
Will CVSan still have its office located on Patio Drive?
CVSan staff currently operates out of two locations. The main office located on Marshall Street and a 5,000 square foot office space located on Patio Drive. In addition to accommodating current and future staff needs, the new O&E building will consolidate staff in one location and provide secure parking for CVSan’s vehicles that are parked at Patio Drive. This will lead to increased work efficiency and an overall decrease in operating costs, ensuring that our rates are being put to best use.
Is it a good time to build a new building? What about the economic impact of COVID-19?
The economic impacts of COVID-19 have been devastating on an economic and personal level to many. CVSan has supported residents of Castro Valley from the offset of the pandemic by organizing community toilet paper pantries to help the underserved. In addition, CVSan's Board of Directors passed the COVID-19 Emergency Rates Relief Act that provided $500,000 of rates relief directly to the community. Despite the economic hardships encountered by many state and local agencies, CVSan has minimized the negative economic effects of COVID-19 because of our long-term financial planning. Despite the state being in a $54.3 billion dollar deficit due to COVID-19, the same does not hold true for CVSan. As a result of our longstanding commitment to fiscal responsibility, CVSan has the ability to build the new O&E building bond free with no new debt and, most importantly, without the need to raise rates to pay for construction.
As we begin to recover from the economic strain, COVID-19 construction of the new O&E building will provide much-needed jobs. Delays in construction would result in increased project costs. The costs of construction materials and services continue to rise annually. In short, the longer CVSan waits to build the new O&E building, the greater cost the construction will be.
What are the benefits of the CVSan O&E Building Project?
- CVSan O&E will consolidate operations creating greater organizational efficiency and lead to long term savings.
- CVSan O&E will be built bond free with no new debt.
- CVSan O&E will ensure future sewer needs are met as Castro Valley continues to grow.
- CVSan O&E will visually enhance both Center Street and Marshall Street sites by relocating vehicle storage and maintenance out of street view.
- CVSan O&E will have educational features that will connect the building directly to the community.
