San Marcos Takes Step Toward New Civic Center
Construction of a new civic center in San Marcos, where City Hall now operates out of trailers, has received the initial go-ahead by the San Marcos City Council.
The council Tuesday night gave its staff permission to start spending money for the preliminary design and planning of the civic project, and for the fast-growing 26-year-old city to be reimbursed for those costs through the sale of $55 million in bonds.
The project is proposed for 59 acres along the eastern side of Twin Oaks Valley Road, between California 78 and San Marcos Boulevard, where a community center known as The Barn now stands.
Although the city hasn’t approved specific construction plans, the concept calls for a new city hall, a 25,000-square-foot community center and a 15,000-square-foot county library branch.
There has also been some discussion of leasing part of the site for a hotel and meeting center.
The city owns 30 acres of the land and hopes to acquire the 29-acre balance by spring, City Manager Rick Gittings said.
Ground breaking is scheduled for next summer, with completion the following year.
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