Dear Community:
We have some exciting news to share with you! As of the first week of September we will be relocating to 2012 K Street in order to meet the urgent need for more space to serve clients while we simultaneously execute our plan to purchase a permanent home for the Center.
As you know, we’ve grown a lot over the past few years, launching six new programs, adding 24 staff, and serving hundreds more community members annually. Last year we leased an annex office, which we have already outgrown. Current facilities have severe structural issues and limitations for people with disabilities and our elders with mobility challenges getting upstairs. We also need more dedicated spaces for confidential STI testing, case management, counseling, youth drop-in, and support groups. Our current meeting spaces are too small for most community events and our staff, interns, and volunteers share cramped workspaces with multiple others.
In alignment with our strategic plan, this interim solution addresses urgent capacity needs as we work to purchase and renovate a permanent facility. The 6,000 square foot temporary space will accommodate all of our current programs and provide a larger Q-Spot youth center. It offers more confidential and community meeting space, improved connectivity across our continuum of services, full accessibility via an elevator and three gender neutral restrooms, and more adequate workspace for staff, which will deliver greater opportunities for collaboration and better client outcomes.
We were fortunate to find a space in Lavender Heights that meets our needs at the former site of Mogavero Architects, with a property owner who was generously willing to provide a flexible and affordable lease within our current budget. The appropriation the City of Sacramento approved for the Center’s relocation that you may have heard about is dedicated to the purchase of a permanent home and will not be used for this temporary relocation. The Center will continue to lease its two housing facilities but will vacate the L Street headquarters and 25th Street annex offices at the end of August.
We’re excited to share this news with you that is good for the Center, good for our clients, and good for the community! I look forward to showing you the new space once we open. If you’d like to reserve a spot on a Get Centered tour, please email us today! If you have any questions about the move please don’t hesitate to reach out to our Executive Director David Heitstuman at david.heitstuman@saccenter.org or (916) 442-0185.