Healdsburg will pass on bidding for armory

The Healdsburg City Council has decided not to pursue acquiring the former National Guard armory.

On a 3-2 vote Monday night, the council opposed a motion to consider bidding on the surplus state property, thus killing any attempt for the city to take over the armory.

Councilman Tom Chambers said the city is struggling with how to maintain its existing facilities and doesn’t need another one.

“We’re having a hard time keeping up with current properties and the buildings we have now,” agreed Councilwoman Susan Jones.

They were part of the majority, along with Councilman Shawn McCaffery, who suggested the armory would be redundant, because the city already has a community center at the old Foss Creek School site.

Councilman Gary Plass and Mayor Jim Wood said the city shouldn’t be so quick to pass on the opportunity to secure what could be a valuable community asset.

“It’s a piece of our history I’d like to see us preserve,” Plass said, suggesting the site could be used for a variety of community purposes, including for public meetings, classes or day care.

The discussion came after the state in June issued a request for written offers for the two-acre property and 10,700-square-foot building on Powell Avenue, next to the city’s Tayman Golf Course.

The circa-1950 building hasn’t been used by the National Guard since the late 1990s.

Healdsburg donated the land to the state to build the armory, and some City Council members feel strongly that the state should be offering the property to the city for free, or at a nominal price.

“I realize money is not plentiful,” said Plass, suggesting that it would probably require some form of public-private partnership to raise funds to fix up the property, or tear down the existing structure and rebuild.

The Cold War relic has asbestos and lead paint that need removal, according to the rudimentary environmental review done by the state. There also may be motor oils present that were routinely dumped there over the years, according to one resident who addressed the City Council.

The state is basically selling the property “as is” and has set no minimum bid. Offers are due by Aug. 1.

“I’d like to bid one dollar and buy it back for a dollar,” said Mayor Jim Wood, who added that he also feels a sense of frustration.

“We’re given the opportunity to buy back land that could be potentially contaminated,” Wood said.

One neighbor of the armory said he was concerned about a high density residential project that could go in if a developer buys it and applies for a rezoning from its current “public district” designation.

Council members said any proposed rezoning and project would be subject to scrutiny by city planners and public hearings.

“Nothing is a slam dunk,” Wood said.

You can reach Staff Writer Clark Mason at 521-5214 or clark.mason@pressdemocrat.com.