The construction of a new Santa Clarita Valley sheriff’s station, which would almost double deputies’ work space, is getting underway this summer, city officials announced.
The groundbreaking for the new station is set to begin in July. This event would mark phase three of the city’s most expensive project to date, city officials said.
The new station is a collaborative effort by the city, Los Angeles County and the county’s Sheriff’s Department. The 46,461-square-foot building, with a helipad, is planned to be built at 26201 Golden Valley Road, replacing the current building on Magic Mountain Parkway.
Grading is projected to be done by January 2019. Construction is on schedule to begin in April 2019, after the grading is complete. The building would likely be completed by July 2020, and ready for deputies to move in by the fall of 2020, said Robert Newman, director of the city’s Public Works Department.
The total project cost is around $62.9 million, Newman said.
The current 25,100-square-foot SCV Sheriff’s Station, at 23740 Magic Mountain Parkway, was built in 1972.
The City Council approved a memorandum in May 2016 that provided joint funding between the county and city. It was approved a week later, with the city contributing the lion’s share and the county contributing $15 million.
Capt. Robert Lewis was unavailable for comment Friday, but in July he said: “We have been working closely with the city and county in designing the new sheriff’s station so it will fit the needs of the residents we serve. I am excited about having a new station and look forward to the groundbreaking and grand opening in a few years.”
Mayor Laurene Weste described the new facility as “state of the art” and praised its placement on Golden Valley Road between Sierra Highway and Centre Pointe Drive.
“(Deputies) will be able to get the assets they need to keep our public safe and work in the most efficient manner,” she said. “I know the officers are very excited for the new facility. They are so overcrowded now. This is such a blessing and we are proud to be able to do it.”
Weste said the accessibility on Golden Valley Road was ideal as part of the “cross valley connector” with State Route 14 on one side and Newhall Ranch Road on the other.
“It’s a limited-access parkway from one side of our valley, so traffic movement will be easier for them and they have very fluid movement to get north, south, east and west,” she said. “They’re at a busy intersection right now, and over there they can get right to the (SR) 14 and get anywhere they want.”
The groundbreaking for the station does not yet have an exact date, but more information should be available next week, said city Communications Manager Carrie Lujan.
The site of the new station was once Fire Station 104, which closed in April. The station’s services were temporarily moved to Fire Station 150 while a new station at Golden Valley Road and Newhall Ranch Road is slated for completion in the fourth quarter of 2019.
