San Rafael, CA –The Marin County Department of Public Works (DPW) will break ground May 23 on the West Marin Service Center renovation project, which involves crucial upgrades to the Point Reyes Station facility and maximizes potential health and human services for the community. An informational public meeting about the project will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. May 22 at the center at 100 6th Street.
The West Marin Service Center in Point Reyes Station opened in 1992. A 2014 facility evaluation study concluded that the West Marin Service Center, which opened in 1992, no longer has the capacity or functionality to meet the community needs. The service center, operated by
Marin County Health and Human Services (HHS), has experienced increased demand for services in recent years, particularly for health care, mental health and aging services.
In March 2015, the Marin County Board of Supervisors approved a $187,438 design contract with RossDrulisCusenbery Architects, Inc., to overhaul the center to help it continue to function as an essential services hub. The renovation, estimated to cost $2.5 million, will increase the size of the existing facility from 3,070 to 5,241 square feet. Construction, handled by E.F. Brett & Company, Inc., will begin May 23 and is expected to take one year. The project is funded through Marin County’s Capital Improvement Fund.
Design practices and modern technologies will be used to bring the building’s safety and energy efficiency up to today’s standards. Going above that, environmentally forward-thinking practices will also be implemented, such as a photovoltaic solar array and stormwater bio-retention basins.
“This project is a priority for the County in our ongoing effort to provide West Marin with the best possible health and human services,” said Patrick Zuroske, DPW Capital Division Manager. “The new facility is something we can proudly say will meet the needs of the community, both in design and deliverable services, for many years to come.”
During the construction period, HHS will provide public services from temporary offices at the Point Reyes Public Safety Building at 101 4th Street with administrative duties being conducted at 65 3rd Street, Suite 27.
The center’s staff partners with community members and agencies to support self-help groups, crime victims, educational programs, and specific services for women, children, and seniors. In addition, it offers HHS programs for medical benefits, food assistance, mental health, child protective services, adult social services, in-home supportive services, and economic assistance.