The OLD Saints John Debacle --- Where are we Now -- Where were we --- & ---- Why aren't we someplace else?
The questions continue and the residents of north Wilson Neighborhood are still looking at a derelict building that has had more problems than upkeep in the past decade. The Old Saint Johns Hospital in-town Oxnard moved out to Gonzo Road in the early '90s and has been there and operating fully as our Oxnard Hospital.
What the new hospital left behind at 333 North F Street was supposed to turn into a large nursing home, then an assisted living complex, then high-end luxury apartments, and now what it currently is slated for: a senior living community made up of 300 units within the current and soon to be renovated old Saint John's Hospital.
The citizens of Wilson Neighborhood have been waiting for 10-plus years to have something happen to this old relic that currently blights the city. Developer, American Homes Construction on Wilshire Blvd. in LA is claiming a $40-Million dollar project is just ahead according to Phil Cummings, project site manager. Mr. Cummings has been beset of late from vocal concerns expressed to him from the locals. He has assured us all that on October 1st 2003 - the construction will begin and workers will be there to begin the first phase of demolishing the interior. According to Mr. Cummings and DSP Security which has night watch there, vandals and paid scavengers have looted the structure of all metals, including vintage copper wiring, lead and copper plumbing, and basically any extraneous commodity that could be lifted.
A few vandals, trespassers, and looters have been apprehended, turned over to Oxnard PD, booked and then -- according to site staff -- the Ventura County DA lessens the offense from felony to misdemeanor and proceeds with not fully punishing those who should not be in the building to begin with. There are other reasons they should not have been in that structure.
THE ASBESTOS FACTOR
Those riotous folks who wandering into the Old Saint Johns and did damage and
cause portions of the wall and ceilings to become broken or separated have just
shortened their own lives. The high asbestos concentration within that
building was a major sticking point that prevented previous developers from
following through on their project. The cost to remove asbestos is
prohibitive, or in other words, expensive. The previous developers always
cited this expense as their main reason for dropping out of the project.
American Housing Construction, Inc. has not done this and claims to be fully
moving forward with the renovation of the old hospital. City officials,
local architects, and most local residents are believing in the construction
firm and have full faith in their word to stay on the project. In Fact, everyone
involved in the project is saying OCTOBER FIRST - THIS YEAR.
It's an "I'll believe it whence I see it" attitude with Oxnard residents who have to content with the gang-bangers going in to the abandoned structure to do their gang initiations or to do other mischief.
Wilson Neighborhood Residents recently contacted their neighborhood chair ' Bill Winter ' to get some answers. A small group of citizens and neighborhood reps got together and met with Mr. Cummings and DSP Security to discuss the still raging concerns of the locals and to see the property up close. American Housing graciously granted the citizens access to the property and the meeting was beneficial.
October 1st. 2003
Everything will be getting started on that day! There is nothing more to say --- but ---- more does need be done and save the talking for later. The main concern is a local's lawsuit which may prevent demolition and construction from beginning on October 1st. The lawsuit may hold up EVERYTHING. In the event that nothing happens past the projected Start Date, Neighborhood Chair Winter drafted recommendations to remediate local concerns and the problems of access to the property by unwanted visitors.
The following remedial actions for the current situation were presented to American Housing Construction, and Lauterbach Associates - Architects, the local point of contact for the city of Oxnard and local Wilson Neighborhood residents.
Issues needing immediate
attention:
1) Perimeter.
The fences that seem to be broken through, at those points of ingress and
egress, more solid fencing or barricade needs to be in place. Wood, concrete,
or steel in any combination would do. We did not do a full walk around the
property line nor did we see the inside of the structure, but on the walk we did
along F Street we noted numerous breaches in the fencing and most notable was an
open door on ground floor that was not blocked by a fence and has been used to
access the interior of the building.
If perimeter securing was
done in a more thorough manner, your looting of the copper and other metals
along with your trespassing issues which DSP Security has to handle for you,
would be things of the past. So, to protect what investment you have remaining,
it would behoove you to spend the money that should have been allocated in
the first place to making that area more secure from intrusion and should there
be another breach, find the week-point and block it.
2) Land appearance.
Mr. Cummings has done a very good job in maintaining the landscaping and making
the site appearance more compliant with City Code. This is a minor issue, but a
poorly kept property is a magnet for mischief and it is good that you have
fulfilled this issue.
It needs regular attention so
the property does not regress to what it was a week ago.
3) Physical appearance of
the exterior.
Regardless of who broke the windows, be it vandals or Police Tactical Units, the
broken windows need to be boarded up or you need to remove the entire window and
frame and take away the problems with the windows entirely. All broken and open
windows on the Ground Floor need to be boarded or hard-wired to prevent access
to the building interior. Concertina (barbed wire) would be an acceptable
barricade, works well for Cal-Trans in LA, works just as well in
That is about all you need to
do to make a world of difference to our Neighborhood. If you tackle those three
issues from the first one down you will have fewer problems and solve a ton of
concerns the neighboring residents have about your property. Should you choose
not to, I cannot control my neighbors and if they promise to call Code
Enforcement.
All we can do is wait and see. There is one minor issue holding up the development also. A lawsuit from a neighbor to the hospital also is on record for remedy. Read the public record on this Suit.
STAND-By as the Oxnard Journal learns more ----
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