Make no mistake about it.

Manteca has secured clearance to house up to 190 homeless in a 56,000 square-foot building they are remodeling at 555 Industrial Park Drive.

The 190 number is what the mandated environmental assessment was based on and referenced in documents filed with federal housing authorities.

That said, the city leaders emphasized the current project now underway to make the former Qualex photo processing plant able to house a permanent homeless navigation center does not currently have a set number of beds it is being designed to handle.

The number of beds will be determined in the coming months after a point in time count of the homeless in Manteca is conducted Jan. 27 and a determination is made of the cost of interior improvements that run the gamut from showers and toilets to a kitchen to sleeping quarters and space for services.

The last point in time count conducted in January 2024 put the Manteca homeless population at 238.

City Manager Toni Lundgren on Tuesday noted having environmental clearance for the maximum homeless the building can house, which is apparently 190, would eliminate the need to conduct another costly and time-consuming environmental assessment when more beds are needed by basing the review on a lower number such as 100.

“Most likely we will phase it,” Lundgren said.

The 190 number has raised some eyebrows with community members given the current emergency shelter operating in the parking lot at 555 Industrial Park Drive can accommodate 75 homeless.

That said, the approach the city took with the space they acquired and the environmental assessment will reduce future costs as well as allow Manteca the flexibility to shape their response to homeless needs as they change.

Work on the roof as well as building shell are now underway.

Requests for proposals will be sought in the near future to conduct what is typically referred to as tenant improvements within the shell and roof.

By working on the shell and roof now, it will speed up the time frame for interior work to be completed.

Manteca is weighing the pros of cons of not converting the entire 56,000 square feet upfront for homeless purposes.

One option would be using part of the structure for storage or a warehouse given there is a loading dock on the back side.

Should that be the path the city takes, renovations to space used for other purposes can’t be paid for with homeless funds.

The city could also opt to prep the entire space and let it sit empty until such time it is needed for additional beds.

The cost and extent of the project at 555 Industrial Park Drive was outlined in an environmental assessment completed in November due to the project being paid for in part with $3,031,346 in Housing & Urban Development funds from various agency programs, including funding allocated to San Joaquin County that the Board of Supervisors committed to Manteca.

The overall $18.5 million cost for the project includes $12.9 million for design and construction, $2.1 million for the purchase of the 56,000-square-foot building and accompanying 4 acres, and $475,000 for equipping the kitchen and other furnishings.

The remaining amount covers construction program management, inspection and agency fees, upgrade PG&E facilities and such.

The city will not be spending local taxes on the purchase, remodel, and furnishing of the former Qualex building.

That is due to the successful efforts of Mayor Gary Singh, working in concert with former State Senator Susan Talamantes Eggman to secure a $16 million State of California grant that the city has in an account and ready to spend when work starts this year.
The city has $21 million in hand of state and federal funding for the project.

The permanent homeless navigation center will likely have homeless staying for longer periods as they access various wraparound services in a bid to keep them off the streets and be able to support themselves.

Charlie Halford reflected the sentiments of his council colleagues when he noted the city has made substantial progress — and continues to do so — with efforts to reduce the number of homeless on Manteca’s streets.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com