SCC to begin construction on Vallejo campus next spring

Tuesday November 18, 2003

SCC to begin construction on Vallejo campus next spring

By MARYANN MASLAN, Times-Herald staff writer

FAIRFIELD - After more than 30 years, Solano Community College will begin construction on a new Vallejo campus next spring, officials announced Monday.

"The people of Vallejo deserve this since the college moved from where it started 30 years ago," said Bill Thurston, Solano Community College board president. "This is a tremendous time for Vallejo to celebrate."

Solano Community College closed a deal with Mandarich Development on Oct. 29, to buy 10 acres in Northgate Business Park to construct the Vallejo Educational Center.

The project is funded by the $124.5 million Measure G bond voters passed last year to provide satellite campuses in Vallejo and Vacaville and to modernize facilities on the main campus near Fairfield.

"Vallejo residents provided the strongest support for the bond and soon they will have a first class institution," Thurston said.

The new campus will replace Vallejo's downtown facilities in the John F. Kennedy Library on Santa Clara Street with a proposed 50,000 square-foot building. The facility will house 24 modern classrooms including computer labs and will be located near Columbus Parkway and St. John's Mine Road.

Of the $124 million bond measure, about $25 million will be spent on the Northgate campus.

"The new campus will be a tremendous addition to Vallejo's educational landscape," said Vallejo's mayor Tony Intintoli. "More educational opportunities can only enrich our community."

Solano Community College formed a partnership with Sonoma State University, which will allow students to earn a four-year degree in several majors by 2006, college officials said.

Course work for degrees in education, criminal justice, business, nursing and computer technology are in the master plan.

Of the more than 12,000 students who attend Solano Community College credit programs, 25 percent are from Vallejo.

Developers worked with the city of Vallejo and the college for nearly four years to find a piece of property to suit the college's needs. The area under development includes an adjacent property with 190 deluxe townhouses.

A citizen oversight committee to oversee Measure G expenditures was selected by the board as well as a contracting firm.

"Now we'll have an institution folks can be really proud of," Thurston said.