Beach Cities Health District hosted three public meetings to inform and answer questions from the community ahead of a proposed Health and Wellness Bond in November 2024.
The community joined the conversation and shared their questions and ideas on:
- State of our Campus
- Youth Mental Health Services
- Open Space
- Seismic Safety, Environmental and Sustainability Improvements
Press Release | Community Meeting Flyer | Factsheet | FAQ | Posters | Public Meeting Recording
State of the Current Campus
Our campus is home to the 63-year-old former hospital building located at 514 North Prospect Avenue in Redondo Beach. In 1955, residents of Hermosa Beach, Manhattan Beach and Redondo Beach voted to fund and build South Bay Hospital. Over the years the building has evolved its services to meet the health needs of the community. To address escalating maintenance costs as well as seismic and structural issues common with buildings built in the 1950s, BCHD plans to demolish the building in 2027 and replace it with approximately two acres of public open space.
Seismic and Maintenance Upgrades: $90 Million
The cost of retrofitting the building to meet current seismic standards is not financially feasible. The District would need to charge approximately three times the average minimum monthly rental rate per square foot to fund debt service.
Former Hospital Building Could Make Way for Open Green Space
In the heart of the campus will be approximately two acres of open space. This area has been made a priority after six years of community feedback. Replacing an old building and acres of asphalt parking with a park and gathering space for community activities like fitness events, community workshops and farmer’s markets.
Youth Mental Health Crisis
- 1 in 5 children ages 13-18 have, or will have a serious mental health illness
- 50% of all lifetime cases of mental illness begin by age 14 and 75% begin by age 24
- 10% of Beach Cities 11th graders reported seriously considering attempting suicide within the past 12 months
Without treatment, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are staggering. Untreated mental health conditions can result in unnecessary unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, incarceration, suicide, and poor quality of life.
Sources: National Alliance on Mental Illness, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, California Healthy Kids Survey
Expand Opportunities for Youth Mental Health Services
allcove Beach Cities is part of a network of integrated youth health centers for young people ages 12 to 25 with mild to moderate needs. Anchored in a model from Stanford University’s Center for Youth Mental Health & Wellbeing, allcove offers a range of services including, mental health, physical health, substance use, peer, family support, and supported education and employment.
Beach Cities Health District Community Health & Wellness Measure
BCHD is exploring a $30 Million General Obligation Bond to:
- Safely demolish the old South Bay Hospital building that was built in the late 1950s, and does not meet current seismic construction standards.
- Replace the building with approximately two acres of open space that will be used for outdoor health and wellness programs.
- Expand youth mental health services by completing a youth mental health center (allcove Beach Cities) with environmental and sustainability best practices.
The measure would levy $3.00 per $100,000 of assessed value on residences in the Beach Cities, generating $1.7 million per year for the project. It would also require that all spending be publicly disclosed and monitored, with all funds being used locally.
