Board OKs New Lease for Social Services

The Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to lease and eventually purchase a 10-story office tower in downtown Santa Ana that will serve as headquarters for the Social Services Agency, now in four separate buildings.

Officials said the lease-purchase is a good deal for the county, which will pay $1.27 a square foot each month compared to the $1.32 it pays now.

The monthly rent will be from about $104,000 to $118,000.

At the end of the 15-year lease, the county has the option of purchasing the building at 888 N. Main Street tower for $100.

“This is not business as usual,” said board Chairman Roger R. Stanton.

“This is staff finding a better way to do things.”

Stanton said the deal will create “synergy” by bringing various departments of the Social Services Agency under one roof.

Supervisor William G. Steiner questioned whether the agency needs all of the 93,000 square feet of space that county officials planned to lease.

At Steiner’s request, the board agreed to limit the lease to 82,000 square feet unless more room is needed later.

Steiner said the change would save the county more than $100,000 a year in rent.