The redevelopment of La Habra’s civic center is nearly complete with one large project looming in the months ahead.
The community center completed its 5,000-square-foot addition earlier this month and this week finalized tenants to use the space. And city officials are checking plans now before issuing permits to demolish the old City Hall for a housing development. City leaders moved into a renovated City Hall across La Habra Boulevard in March.
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![The old La Habra City Hall building is being replaced by a housing development. The new City Hall building moved across the street in March 2017. (Orange County Register File photo)]()
The old La Habra City Hall building is being replaced by a housing development. The new City Hall building moved across the street in March 2017. (Orange County Register File photo)
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![Workers continue to ready the new La Habra City Hall for opening on Wednesday. The new, bright and airy, high-ceiling atrium replaces the old structure’s outdoor courtyard. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)]()
Workers continue to ready the new La Habra City Hall for opening on Wednesday. The new, bright and airy, high-ceiling atrium replaces the old structure’s outdoor courtyard. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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![Workers continue to ready the new La Habra City Hall for opening on Wednesday. The new structure replaces three buildings from the 1980s. Each department will now have its own space and meeting areas, something the old structures didn’t, said Robert Ferrier, assistant to the City Manager. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)]()
Workers continue to ready the new La Habra City Hall for opening on Wednesday. The new structure replaces three buildings from the 1980s. Each department will now have its own space and meeting areas, something the old structures didn’t, said Robert Ferrier, assistant to the City Manager. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
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The City Council, on Monday, June 19, approved leases with the La Habra Art Association, Boy Scout Troops 833 and Pack 337 and the La Habra Woman’s Club to use space in the Community Center for a $1 a year.
The Boy Scouts and Woman’s Club were given five-year leases, while the Art Association was given a 2-year lease at the same price. The association will have space in the new housing development, and doesn’t expect to remain long term at the Community Center, Community Services Director Sal Failla said.
The city will also use a portion of the building for storage.
Each organization gets its own space in the Community Center, with a locked door and a shared restroom.
The cost of the expansion was about $.2 million. Funding comes from capital reserves, impact fees and the sale of the former City Hall property to housing developer City Ventures.
The old administration building could be demolished within the next two months to make room for the housing development, which has been in the works for nearly two years.
“They are checking the plans now and hopefully we will be able to get the permits soon,” said Andrew Ho, director of community and economic development. “The time frame for a project is always nebulous. We would like to start this project in two weeks, but a lot needs to happen in two weeks for that to happen. It might just start in August, that’s probably more reasonable.”
The development, which is part of the land swap between the city and City Ventures, is expected to house 71 condominiums, Ho said.
The old Civic Center building was sold to the developer for $5.58 million. The city purchased buildings across the street from City Ventures for $3.69 million, which were remodeled into the new City Hall. The project cost $11.5 million.
“This project will bring a strong and and new presence to La Habra Boulevard,” Ho said. “We’ve been trying revitalize the boulevard for quite a while now and make these streets a bit more lively during the day and night with pedestrian activity.”
The police station building, which architecturally doesn’t match the new the City Hall and Community Services building will be getting an upgrade later this summer. The facade of the building will be updated so the design of the city buildings is cohesive in downtown.