Engineers have signed off on the structural soundless of the former Qualex building to house what will eventually be Manteca’s permanent homeless navigation center at 555 Industrial Park Drive.

It was a critical step needed before the city proceeded with steps to take possession of the 55,000-square-foot structure that has been under the control of an oversight board since the disbanding of redevelopment agencies throughout California in 2011.

Preliminary drawings for the remodel have already been completed.

City Manager Toni Lundgren indicated needed roof work will proceed while final plans are completed in order to keep moving the project forward.

Creating the permanent home for the homeless navigation center has been delayed, in part, by environmental reviews and steps needed for the city to secure ownership of the parcel and the structure that once housed Qualex, a film processing arm of Kodak.

The move will allow the city to maximize the impact of a $16 million homeless grant Mayor Gary Singh played a pivotal role in securing from the State of California.

At the time — and still is — the largest homeless grant ever obtained from Sacramento for a California city under 100,000 residents.

Originally, the goal was to build a new building on the back part of 8 acres the city obtained in the 600 block of South Main Street.

Lundgren and city staff took a second look at the project, the Qualex building, and the conditions of the grant.

Since it wasn’t tied specifically to 600 South Main St., the money could be used to convert 555 Industrial Park Drive.

A deeper look into the building’s supposed limitations that was undertaken by previous city administrations, led to it getting clearance to move forward.

The bottom line has numerous advantages for the city:

*The remodel will cost significantly less than new construction. That will free up a large chunk of the $16 million to cover annual operating costs. The current emergency shelter in portable buildings in the parking lot costs roughly $1.3 million a year to operate.

*The size of the building’s footprint means there will be room to expand if the needs arises. Meanwhile, a good part of the building will be used for city storage.

*It freed up 680 South Main to locate a new police station with construction expected to start next year. There could eventually be another civic building on the half of the parcel not needed for a police station. It could be a combination library, community center, and performing arts center.

*555 Industrial has proven to be an effective site with minimal problems.

There are currently portables on site that provide up to 75 beds. Other portables house a kitchen/dining area and a day room.

The city would still employ the portables in its homeless efforts.

The remodel will include services aimed at helping get the homeless off the street and to the point where they are able to work to shelter themselves or are in some type of stable housing situation.

The city’s ability to take ownership of the surplus RDA building was made possible by an agreement hammered out by Lundgren with Manteca Unified Superintendent Clark Burke.

The district had wanted to buy the building under state rules governing surplus government property to create a central warehouse for district nutritional services to get out of expensive leases and avoid much more expensive construction costs for a new facility.

The district was able to secure the 58,500 square-foot former Ecologic building at 550 Carnegie Street directly north of the former Qualex building in the Manteca Industrial Park for $6.75 million to serve their needs.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com