The Cypress School District Board of Trustees have officially set the date for the ribbon cutting to celebrate the board’s move from their existing administrative offices to a large new building within the city’s commercial district.
According to a postcard mailed by the district this week, officials are planning a ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday, August 24 for their new administrative offices located at 5816 Corporate Ave in Cypress.
The CSD voted on September 10, 2019 to purchase the multi-story commercial building for the new administrative offices, having agreed to sell their existing site which is currently in escrow by Melia Homes, a developer hoping to build housing on the site.
The board agreed to purchase the building for $7.7 million and approved an agreement with Corporate Avenue Tenant Improvements Project: M.P. South, Inc. to perform office space improvements to allow the district’s administrative headquarters to relocate by the fall of 2021.
The Event-NewsEnterprise recently met with CSD Supt. Anne Silavs and Assistant Supt. for Business Services, Dr. Tim McLellan to discuss the economics of the move and will soon present an extended report.
Cypress School District officials say the district was faced with significant costs to renovate their existing 50-plus year-old administrative complex. In addition to obtaining ownership of a tangible asset that will grow in value, the district will retain some commercial tenants.
Moreover, McLellan said estimates to modernize the site they eventually sold for $9.1 million was more than $16 million, not including maintenance and other costs.
He and Silavs said in order to get the “highest and best use” of the existing facility would have required a zoning change approved by voters. After rejection of earlier proposals by voters, Silavs said “we began looking for other alternatives.”
Just about that time, the superintendent said, the Corporate Ave. building became available. “It was very fortuitous,” she said.
“We took a very conservative approach to the modernization project,” said Silavs, seeking to “conserve funds.”
The district’s move caps a massive “modernization” overhaul of the district’s operations that will culminate with the August 24 ribbon cutting of the Corporate Ave. building.
Watch for an in-depth report on the Cypress School District modernization in an upcoming issue.
