A. Project & Process

 

What is the HEW site?

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Originally built in the 1850’s as the Nevada County Hospital, the HEW complex sits just outside of downtown Nevada City, off Willow Valley Road. The site served as the former Health, Education and Welfare Complex. It was intended to be a place of healing. It’s a total of 12 acres, with several buildings and additions totalling ~37,000 sq ft. The property has been vacant since 2007 and is privately owned and seeking a new future. 

 

Is there a plan for its use?

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No, there is no proposed project at this time. The HEW Renew process is an exploration of our communities' needs to determine the best, most viable, use for the site and buildings. 

 

Are you proposing housing right now?

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No. Phase 1 of this process is active and intentional listening, defining the site feasibility, not a fixed project.

 

Who is leading this and how can I participate?

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Owner/builder is facilitating a community-inspired design process; you can take the survey, participate in focus groups, and join the mailing list.

 

What happens with my input?

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All input will be analyzed and ideas and themes clustered; these results will inform the brief and development of next-phase concepts.

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B. Safety & Fire

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What are the immediate risks?

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The site is an attractive nuisance;  repeatedly being broken into and vandalized. In some cases people are attempting to inhabit the spaces, there is concern around warming fires and exposure to toxic materials. 

 

What about the lead and asbestos?

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Lead and asbestos is common in structures built prior to 1978. After the new building codes it took several years to develop best practices, but now more than 40 years later experienced contractors can easily mitigate and remediate these issues.

 

Are there any tenants on the property?

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There is a temporary caretaker on site, in an attempt to mitigate trespassers and risks.

 

What immediate steps have been taken to reduce risk?

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Defensible space, ladder-fuel reduction, securing openings, debris removal; we’ll prioritize near-term mitigations as planning continues.

 

Is the building structurally sound?

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The core structure is in good standing, including poured-in-place concrete walls, brick and stone work and a timber roof; full assessments will guide feasibility.

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C. Costs, Demolition & Preservation

 

Why not just demolish the buildings?

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Demolition alone is nearly $2.25M (2006 County estimate) and doesn’t include site restoration. Reuse may preserve embodied carbon and community character, and bring this glorious structure back to life. 

 

Will anything historic be preserved?

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The exterior/primary shell and surrounding grounds are of historic significance and add cultural richness to the local architectural vernacular. In 2007 there was a Historic Resource Survey completed on the HEW complex. The survey determined significance “as the first county hospital in Nevada County, as a rare example of Spanish Colonial architecture in Nevada City…”.

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Preservation is a core value of the HEW Renew process. We hope to explore various design scenarios that protect the details depend on feasibility and community priorities.

 

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D. Neighborhood & Environment

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How will traffic, noise, and lighting be handled?

All concepts that come out of the HEW Renew process will study access, circulation, hours, and dark-sky lighting to best fit neighborhood context.

 

What about water, wastewater, and trees?

Environmental constraints and infrastructure will shape what’s viable; we’ll share findings throughout the HEW Renew process.

 

E. Participation, Privacy & Next Steps

 

Will my data be shared or sold?

No. Individual responses are private; only aggregated summaries are shared.

 

How will I know what’s decided?

We will communicate through email updates, social media, and our local media outlets. Sign up for our email list! 

 

How can I participate?

Take the survey, share it, and sign up for the newsletter to receive updates. Consider joining one of our focus groups.