Fresno County Supervisors Approve $426.5M Facilities Overhaul — Downtown Properties, Historic Del Webb Building Face Uncertain Future

The Fresno County Board of Supervisors signed off on a facilities master plan last Tuesday that puts a $426.5 million price tag on overhauling the county’s downtown property portfolio — a decision that could reshape the core of government operations in Fresno and potentially demolish the historic Del Webb Building.

The plan includes new construction, renovations, department relocations, and the possible teardown of aging county buildings. Supervisor Luis Chavez said the county’s calculus changed after a needs assessment revealed the staggering cost of simply maintaining what it already owns.

“We obviously got an eye-popping amount close to half a billion dollars for just the maintenance of the current existing buildings,” Chavez said.

That assessment drove the county to evaluate which properties are worth renovating, which should be replaced outright, and which should be demolished based on long-term cost-benefit analysis.

The Breakdown

• Several county departments — the County Administrative Officer, Board of Supervisors, county chambers, county counsel, and the sheriff — are expected to move into two buildings the county purchased near Ventura and O Street.
• First phase: demolish the existing courthouse building to allow the state to build a new courthouse at the site.
• Renovations planned for the Hall of Records and the Crocker Building.
• The historic Del Webb Building is under consideration for demolition, though preservation options remain on the table if a viable buyer or investor emerges who can address the building’s deferred maintenance.
• Chavez said older buildings face prohibitive renovation costs due to outdated codes, lack of ADA accessibility, and aging infrastructure — some downtown county buildings still run on old clay sewer pipelines insufficient for current population levels.
• Final decisions are expected during the 2027-2028 budget cycle.
• The county has not determined how to finance the plan — options include upfront cash or bonds, with borrowing costs a factor.
• Full build-out projected at 10 to 15 years.

What This Means for You

This is a generational capital-spending decision by the Board of Supervisors that will lock in where and how county government operates for decades. The county has not specified whether the $426.5 million will be financed through bonds or direct appropriations. Delaying the work, Chavez warned, could drive construction costs even higher. Budget decisions are expected to approach in 2027-2028.

What to Watch

First, the Del Webb Building. Chavez mentioned preservation possibilities including turning it into housing or office space — but the county would need to find the right buyer or investor who could take on the project and address the deferred maintenance costs.

Second, the financing mechanism. The county hasn’t locked in whether they’ll pay upfront or issue bonds. If they issue bonds, that means debt service added to the annual budget for years, with borrowing costs a factor the county has acknowledged.

Third, the timeline. A 10- to 15-year build-out is a long horizon for a project of this scale.