The Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors unanimously decided Tuesday to demolish the old county jail — which has been on the site since 1903 — along with the 12-story former county administration building at 651 Pine St. in Martinez.
The county will now officially start looking for contractors for the project. Board members agreed opponents of the demolition didn’t propose any viable alternatives for the site after four years of debate.
“We are at a place where we can’t just keep continuing,” said board chairwoman Diane Burgis.
The project would cost an estimated $65 million to $75 million, depending on whether the county decides to build a two-story or three-story building. The funds would come from a combination of existing county capital reserve money and new debt issuance.
Supervisors said the nature of the building’s material — concrete meant to keep people inside, along with concerns about factors like asbestos — made it problematic for renovation. They said the fact its existence was based on, and contained so much, suffering helped make their decision.
“I would think there would be a celebration with many of our constituencies,” said Supervisor Federal Glover.
Members of the Architectural Preservation Foundation of Contra Costa County disagreed during the virtual meeting. The group has worked to find uses for the jail for the past four years and indicated it did bring forth viable alternatives for the jail.
Group president Cheryll Grover said using photos to preserve the history of the first buildings constructed for public use in Contra Costa “is not acceptable to us.”
“Four years ago we presented over 300 signatures to you for preservation,” Grover said. “There has been no current relevant community outreach on this issue.”
The county opened the administration building in 1964. It was officially decommissioned in December, when the county opened its new administrative building across the street.
County officials have expressed interest in using the new complex as office space for its sheriff’s office, district attorney’s office, public defender’s office, health services, and office of racial justice and social equity.
During a board retreat last month, supervisors discussed four options presented by staff, paring them down to either a two-story building of about 20,000 square feet of office space, or a three-story building with about 40,000 square feet for offices. Both options include 80 parking spaces.
The county report says the contractor must preserve a record of the jail building “in accordance with National Park Service guidelines for Historic American Building Survey (HABS) documentation,” including photographs and written documentation of the historical content and building description for “submission to local historical repositories, including the Contra Costa Library in Martinez.” Physical building components can also be salvaged for use in public spaces.
Turn it into a Bed n Breakfast.
It would be “Booked” solid every night.
75 million dollar project to remove and rebuild? Our tax dollars hard at work!
The county paid millions for the DA office by the library about ten years ago and now they need a new one? And a place to put the racial equity office?
Our streets are terrible pot holes and trash …. homeless everywhere.
Our Schools are closed but hey yeah let’s pay 75 mil for a new DA office. Seems fair.
Rich keep getting richer
Poor keep getting poorer
They do not deserve any better Accommodations.Prisoners are in jail because they committed a crime.They don’t need a five star hotel.
Make it a homeless shelter.
“They said the fact its existence was based on, and contained so much, suffering helped make their decision”
Yes, you read that correctly
But still trying to understand it, Suffering!?!?! It is a jail, people made a choice to be there based on their actions. They could use the place for the office of Racial Justice and Social equity just how it is.
Existence based on suffering? Office of racial justice and social equity?? You know, there was a time in the recent past, let’s say 2019, where if someone told me such things I’d have a good laugh and figure they were quoting a Babylon Bee “article”. But now? Now I know there really are that many of you who are so demented and stupid that you’re 100% all-in on this BS. We are so f****d with morons like you actually running this country.
They have it wrong. It was filled with people that created suffering on others.
What a bunch of stupid morons.
Excellent observation!
Use it for a homeless shelter.
@MikeyV, you are so right.
Wow! The old County jail survived the 1906 earthquake, World War I and World War II, the Loma Prieta Earthquake, and multiple smaller quakes since its construction, but it couldn’t survive the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors. Typical!
Architects didn’t design the building to survive “wokeness” or the opening scenes of “1984”!
I spent a number of times in that place back in the late 70s I was always on the other side of the booking desk though. Lot of memories of that place . We may have met before.
With regard to demolishing the old jail: “I would think there would be a celebration with many of our constituencies,” said Supervisor Federal Glover.
It’s pretty clear by that statement who Glover thinks his constituencies are. I think he fails to realize a large portion of them don’t vote by choice or are prohibited from doing so due to felony convictions.
The old jail is a historical landmark. Considering how few there are in CCC, they should preserve it. As for the admin building, it probably caused the people more suffering than the jail. Tear it down!
The CCC Administration building brings back many memories – good and bad. New job potential, testing and interviews …. some went well and others not so much. Still put in my time as an employee – proud employee serving the good folks of Contra Costa County for decades.
As a note, the tallest building in Martinez- The Administration building opened in 1954 as a modern style of architecture, not 1964 as noted. Also the old jail was small, the county was small population wise also. Of note, there is an exercise yard on the roof …… small building even smaller yard.
Be safe
Be well 🇺🇸
Thank you for your service in our historic jail (1901-1903 or 1944). These buildings had a lot of potential for the future-(asbestos only is a dirty word in California. Other communities around the country know if its encapsulated it is not hazardous) but that is being removed from the entire community which breaks my heart. But its the stories of inmates actually remembering the staff and officers in those buildings and the camaraderie between them that makes me happy you may have been a part of that. We have the benefit of having some great people who have worked for the county, especially when integrity mattered. THANK YOU!
1. The 75 mill is because they purposefully combined multiple projects so you will never know how much money is being spent on the several different projects. The admin skyscraper demolish and removal (and full of asbestos), The Old Jail complex of 1901-1903 and the 1944 annex, (taking pictures for posterity) and demolish all to the ground. And rebuild A NEW office building on the ADMIN site (651 Pine) across the street from the present jail site, 3 stories and a parking garage beneath. So I estimate about 2.5 mill to demolish the jail sites (removing them from all potential use NOT by the County-rehabbed) but by entities who could pay for the work-and jail asbestos removal- while salvaging the historic granite blocks for preservation elsewhere (?) possibly although that is junk history. 2. There IS a viable plan, but the county has a bad track record for liability issues so the city doesn’t trust the county and the county decided the viable plan, saving 2 million dollars of taxpayer money just wasn’t lucrative enough to save a building that messes up their new view from their new taj mahal across the street. 3. the VIABLE plan is a developer they have been negotiating with for 4 years and lied to make everyone think there was no plan. The County lied and said the developer didnt have a track record that they could have confidence in, even though he has done several other historic projects in Martinez and around the county. 4. The building reflects “sadness”? We have talked to people who have shared lots of stories and they actually had good experiences to report. Buildings dont make sadness, people who get into trouble and are tried in court (the building they actually saved and rehabbed a ffew years back) not the jail which was supposed to be punishment for crimes but often was stories of camaraderie between officers and inmates, and neighborhood families bringing cooked Italian meals down for both to share together on Sundays.~ If we were to tear down buildings because someone didnt have a great time there, we wouldn’t have any would we?? THIS is about history and the building that our ancestors built for posterity. It has lasted 120 years and it will take human beings to tear it down. 5 human beings in particular. 6 if you count the lies of county staff. Why miss a chance to waste county money? (smh)
I should also mention, these old jails were not part of any abuse so making this about social justice when it wasn’t and in fact many people report having very good experiences and the officers were top notch and friendly. This shows how much our own supervisors even know about the buildings and people in our history and who built our world 100 years ago. The are sensitive to an important subject but didnt bother to ask us what partnerships or programs we had in mind that actually included and benefitted those important issues and communities. I feel sorry for the neighbors too. This is a project that will be nearly 4 years of noise, dirt, dump trucks, closed streets, and asbestos release. Fabulous.
anon,
By the time I did a lateral up here as a reserve, MDF was up and running and not running well.
108RS
It should be used to lock up the Board of Supervisors and the current DA.
A very appropriate use.
108RS
If they must tear down the admin building, they should build a multi-level public parking structure on the spot with free parking for anyone who has county business, such as jury duty, tax questions, etc.
Parking has always been a nightmare in that area.
Thank you Cher for the earnest and clear input on the various history revolving around our Martinez historic buildings. Structures provide shelter and a working environment for people. People bring life and stories to the structures, a circle if you will.
I was not aware of the long fought battle or discussions if you will regarding the two buildings. The Admin. can go and I don’t believe too many folks would shed a tear…. but I may be wrong about that. The jail, the stones alone could tell a story and maybe with some clear headed visionaries could prevail and disassemble the structure at a reduced rate and repurpose them in some bright and symbolic manner…..
Perhaps a pipe dream but perhaps ✔️
Thanks for sharing and caring 🇺🇸