Several Buildings to Be Upgraded

The city will soon begin a $480,000 project to retrofit three older buildings with handicapped-accessible ramps, restrooms and drinking fountains.

On Monday, the City Council approved plans to improve the police/fire headquarters on Dowell Drive, the Ventura Avenue Adult Center in west Ventura and facilities at Arroyo Verde Park. Workers are scheduled to start construction in the next few months, according to City Engineer Rick Raives.

In the next few years, Ventura plans to spend several million dollars upgrading other buildings, Raives said.

Many of the buildings the city plans to retrofit already have wheelchair ramps and other facilities for the handicapped, but are not up to current standards.

For example, the wheelchair ramp at the front entrance to the police/fire station is considered too steep by federal standards, he said.

“It has to be redone, and because the flagpole is in the way, we have to move the flagpole,” Raives said.

The project will eventually extend to city historic buildings, such as the Olivas and Ortega adobes, Raives said. These projects could be more expensive because additional design work will be involved, although some historical buildings may be exempt from the improvements.