Important note: The following was provided in the Fiscal Year 2015-16 and 2016-17 Recommended Budget as an update to an Aug. 6, 2013 Board Report on Infrastructure Improvements that included $250,000 for a cost and financing study to replace the Cordilleras building. Updated information can be found on the Public Works website.
Cordilleras Mental Health Center
Cordilleras Center is a County-owned 117 bed psychiatric facility serving seriously mentally ill residents that is managed by the San Mateo County Health, Division of Behavioral Health and Recovery Services (BHRS) through an agreement with Telecare Corporation. The building, which was designed as a hospital for tuberculosis patients decades ago, is deteriorating and expensive to maintain.
BHRS believes that replacing Cordilleras with a campus comprised of smaller facilities has the potential for up to 50% federal reimbursement, and will also provide for more effective programs for seriously mentally ill residents so that they can successfully transition back to community living. The estimated cost of constructing this new facility is $85 million (Measure A/Bond funded) and is projected for completion by Winter 2019/ 2020.
On November 18, 2014, the Board of Supervisors accepted the Feasibility Study for the replacement of the facility. The Department of Public Works retained HGA Architects for the development of design bridging documents that will be included in the Request for Qualification and Request for Proposal documents for building construction.
The San Mateo County Health is confirming the programming with the stakeholders as part of the ongoing development of the bridging documents. Site investigations are underway to meet the CEQA requirements and identify accessible non-intrusive areas for geo-tech testing.