Santa Cruz County closes on Watsonville facility
Government center is set to host a multitude of services
WATSONVILLE What is now boating chain West Marine’s corporate headquarters will officially be a Santa Cruz County service hub in 2023, the jurisdiction announced Wednesday afternoon.
County Spokesman Jason Hoppin told the Sentinel that escrow had closed on 500 Westridge Drive in Watsonville last week, exactly four months after the Board of Supervisors approved the purchase of the 121,000-square-foot facility. The building cost the county $16.4 million, according to Hoppin.
At the time of the board’s decision, south county leaders Zach Friend and Greg Caput voiced their support for creating a onestop shop for their constituents.
“Having this new facility to me, recognizes how much south county’s voice matters in this discussion,” Friend said in June. “There will be a home for that voice, a physical presence for that voice, an ability to access services your government in a way south county hasn’t had historically.”
Over three-year period,
the county intends to do light remodeling to the West Marine offices and bring most of the services you could receive at the current 200,000-squarefoot government center on Ocean Street to those bordering Monterey County. Though county surveyors have been inside the building to assess it, no work has begun yet. It will soon, Hoppin said.
The spokesman added that the building itself is in pretty good shape, with the exterior set to remain the same. This will make it easier for the county to ready the facility and condense
services from five south county buildings into one as a part of the county’s Long-Range Facilities Plan.
“Not every single service in south county will be relocated into that building,” Hoppin said of the soon-tobe government digs. “For example, the medical and behavioral health services (departments) are not moving.”
Hoppin said the county is unsure how many workers 500 Westridge will house, but that they will mostly be individuals that are relocating from other south county buildings.
In addition to bringing
more offerings to the area, employees who already live in south county will benefit from the change. The spokesman said it is anticipated some people contracted by the county will probably relocate offices from north to south county to lessen their commutes.
“We will work with staff to try to optimize the process and make it as easy as possible,” Hoppin said. “There are people commuting through (every) morning to downtown Santa Cruz from Watsonville so we think this will ultimately benefit them as well.”