As supervisors consider a new strategy for Fresno County’s downtown property portfolio, one possibility before them is the demolition of the historic Del Webb building, known now as the Plaza Building.

On Tuesday, supervisors will receive a presentation of the county’s facilities master plan, including discussions about a new courthouse, new sheriff’s headquarters, new board of supervisors meeting space, and renovations for the Hall of Records and public defender.

Making property decisions one at a time instead of following a coordinated vision has led to a backlog of deferred maintenance, inconsistent work environments, and scattered departmental locations, the plan stated.

“As these challenges continue to grow, future decisions must be guided by a coordinated long-term strategy rather than individual capital projects,” the report stated.

Nearly Half a Billion Dollars Through 2031

Despite a departure en masse of the downtown area over the years — including the hundreds of staff members in the Department of Social Services now in Clovis — the plan states it wants to maintain a presence in the city hub for sheriffs, the board of supervisors, the assessor’s office, and others.

The problem, county analysts say, is growing maintenance needs for key buildings including the Plaza Building, the Hall of Records, and the Crocker Building.

For those three, deferred maintenance equaled $81.7 million in 2017, with another $30 million likely accumulated since then, according to the county report.

Across the county’s portfolio, 38% of properties have passed their time of usefulness and 24% are approaching the end, the report concluded.

Furthermore, the amount of leased space makes it difficult to adapt office spaces to workflow needs, the report states. Parking is constrained, and services are spread among multiple buildings, making it hard for employees and residents to access services.

Costs to acquire, demolish, renovate, and build the new downtown portfolio would total $426.5 million, the report states.

This month, supervisors will also have to make tough budgetary decisions as federal cuts to Medi-Cal and CalFresh could leave the county having to come up with hundreds of millions of dollars.

Delbert Webb’s Nationwide Legacy

The massive 20-story Plaza Building would be the biggest piece of real estate under consideration.

Completed in 1964 by the prolific Delbert Eugene Webb, the Fresno-born developer became integral to making Las Vegas what it is today. According to KVPR, mobster Bugsy Siegel in 1946 hired him to build the historic Flamingo Hotel.

According to Wikipedia, Siegel, after boasting about having personally killed 16 men, told Webb, “Don’t worry, we only kill each other.”

“(Siegel’s) name didn’t mean anything to me at the time,” Webb later confessed, according to the Manteca/Ripon Bulletin. “I sure found out in a hurry.”

The Flamingo helped establish Las Vegas as a big-time gaming hub.

His company also built the Sahara and the Mint, and helped establish Webb as one of the largest gaming operators and private employers in Nevada. His company also created the Sun City retirement community in Arizona, spreading the “lifestyle” to cities across the country.

He also became a part owner of the New York Yankees during their post-war World War II heyday, when in a 20-year span, the team won 10 World Series and 15 American League pennants.

Webb died on the Fourth of July in 1974 at the age of 75.

The Del Webb Building was originally a hotel housing a couple of restaurants before Fresno County eventually took it over. As the Plaza, it is now used by the county for public works, child support services, and a host of other uses.

Supervisors can choose to renovate the space, but analysts say space limitations restrict functionality.

New Courthouse, Sheriff’s HQ

Choices of what to do with the building would be central to the county’s portfolio strategy. Along with the Del Webb building, the county will also consider demolishing the sheriff’s headquarters and dispatch center as the state moves to replace the Fresno County Superior Courthouse.

Staff recommends a new building for both dispatch and the sheriff’s office to be located at the Juvenile Justice Center near the coroner’s building.

The Hall of Records and Crocker Building would undergo full interior renovations, systems replacements, and a seismic retrofit. Other government services would go to 650 O St. and the former PG&E building at 705 P St.

“Fresno County has reached an inflection point where incremental facility decisions are no longer sufficient,” the report states. “The county now has an opportunity to manage its facilities as a strategic portfolio that aligns public investment with service delivery, operational performance, and long-term financial stewardship.”