Board of Supervisors finalizes purchase of former Bank of America building in Guerneville

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors today unanimously approved a revised agreement to acquire the former Bank of America building in downtown Guerneville, securing a key satellite office used to deliver government services to residents in lower Russian River communities.

Under the renegotiated agreement, the county will pay $2.725 million for the building, where the county has leased office space since 2006. Two county agencies, the Department of Health Services and the Probation Department, share the building with West County Community Services, a local nonprofit.

“This property is uniquely situated to meet the County’s current and future needs in the lower Russian River area,” said District 5 Supervisor Lynda Hopkins, who represents west county. “Purchasing this building will ensure that it remains in service to the public after our lease expires next year.”

The property, located at 16390 Main St. in Guerneville, includes a 7,784-square-foot office building and adjacent parking lot with more than 30 spaces. The size and location of the building, with convenient access to public transit, has made it a central hub for health and welfare services in west county. During floods and fires, the building has also served as a Local Assistance Center, a one-stop shop where residents and businesses can obtain disaster services.

The county Health Services and Probation departments lease approximately 2,900 square feet of the building, while West County Community Services leases approximately 3,000 square feet. Bank of America leases approximately 180 square feet for an ATM cash machine and equipment room.

In July, the Board of Supervisors allocated up to $3 million to purchase the former Bank of America building. The county negotiated a $275,000 reduction in the price of the building after identifying the need for a new roof, HVAC units, a fire alarm system and upgrades to its doors to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The building is owned by Patricia Veale and Clement Carinalli, trustees of the Veale Family 2020 Revocable Trust, who accepted the county’s offer to buy the property earlier this year.

The building is in escrow while the county’s new Department of Public Infrastructure finishes its due diligence investigation, which is expected to be completed by Nov. 18, 2022. The Department of Public Infrastructure was formed in August by the merger of the Department of General Services and the Department of Transportation and Public Works.

As part of the Resilient Infrastructure pillar of the county’s five-year Strategic Plan, the Board of Supervisors is seeking to establish regional service centers in west Sonoma County, the Sonoma Valley and Cloverdale by 2023.

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Media Contact:
Ted Appel, Communications Specialist
publicaffairs@sonoma-county.org
(707) 565-3040
575 Administration Drive, Suite 104A
Santa Rosa, CA 95403