Measure BC: Second bond in BCHD’s history is next week
By Garth Meyer
Voters have not fielded a bond from Beach Cities Health District since the year of “In the Still of the Night” by The Five Satins, when a measure passed in 1956 to build the former South Bay Hospital, now the subject of the BCHD’s second bond in its history, to tear down the building, among other work on the 11-acre campus.
“We want voters thinking about the future of health services (here) and whether they want to support allcove for youth, and open space in place of the hospital building,” said Tom Bakaly, Beach Cities Health District CEO.
In the past few weeks, BCHD has been the subject of a city council discussion about future development parameters – Floor Area Ratio – on its Redondo Beach land. This is not connected to the $30 million bond and what it seeks, which is $9 million for allcove construction (youth health facility), $8 million for hospital demolition, $7 million for public open space to be used for BCHD Center for Health & Fitness programming such as Zumba in the Park; and $6 million for parking, grading, planning, site work and contingencies.
The Floor Area Ratio discussion has drawn much public comment at city council.
“Largely, that is people with concerns about the potential assisted living building (Healthy Living Campus). That’s not something that’s moving forward now, due to the economy,” Bakaly said. “That’s really separate from allcove and the open space.”
The Healthy Living Campus is a plan to redevelop the BCHD property, centered on a large assisted living building along with open space and other features related to wellness.
“I think people are jumping to conclusions about the bond [Measure BC] benefitting the developer. We are a public agency and are going to do what’s best for the community,” Bakaly said. “We’re trying to build a place to come to be well. $30 million to complete the open space (etc.), is it worth it, $3 per $100,000 assessed value; that’s the question for voters.”
The BCHD states that the reason to tear down the closed hospital is earthquake concerns.
“It’s a 1960s non-ductile construction building that has seismic risk,” Bakaly said. “We’re able to operate safely in it for the next two years as determined by an expert. At the end of 2026, the risk is starting to be on the edge of what’s acceptable for insurance, perhaps grants. It’s not something for which the district is going to stick its head in the sand.”
Non-ductile construction means it is not reinforced, Bakaly said, and has narrow columns which are problematic in a seismic event.
“There are 110 souls living there in Silverado (Memory Care Community),” he said.
If the bond passes, plans for the Healthy Living Campus’ main assisted living building are projected to drop from 217 to 150 units.
“We’re looking at smaller development and less height,” Bakaly said. “The assisted living building may not go forward at all.”
A pre-application for the project was submitted to the city in 2022.
What if the bond fails?
“Then the (BCHD) board would decide (on cuts to services) based on community input,” Bakaly said.
BCHD’s estimate for the money needed to finance the hospital teardown is $750,000 per year for 20 years.
Whether the bond passes or fails, Bakaly said the building will close at the end of 2026 and would be gone by early 2027 – demolished and removed – whether the cost is covered by voters or financed by BCHD.
The two acres of proposed open space would be for outdoor health, fitness and wellness programs, it would have demonstration gardens, perhaps pavilions and maybe an outdoor kitchen, Bakaly said.
“We’ve done some community visioning around the open space and those are some of the things being looked at.”
Opposition
Bob Pinzler, a former Redondo Beach city councilman and member of the 2017-24 General Plan Advisory Committee for the city, has been a vocal critic of Measure BC.
“They’re trying to scare people,” he said. “They are mischaracterizing the seismic studies. There’s still at least 25 years of life to that building. It just can’t be used as a hospital.”
“The seismic study was very clear in that demolishing the building would be prudent if we were unable to retrofit it,” Bakaly said. “Which we’ve determined is not financially feasible.”
Retrofitting is estimated to cost $90 million+.
Pinzler’s assessment is also geographical.
“Whether people in Manhattan and Hermosa will pay that much for open space in South Redondo. People don’t go to parks that far away,” he said. “… This whole thing is (BCHD’s) last attempt to plaster over their financial ineptness.”
“The district does not have a structural deficit,” Bakaly said.
As it stands, Measure BC needs a two-thirds majority to pass. If statewide Measure 5 is approved, also on the Nov. 5 ballot, the threshold would drop to 55%, like for schools. It would take effect immediately.
“This (bond) is a key moment in the health district’s history,” Bakaly said. “Something voters should weigh in on, as they did in the beginning.” ER