Schools

Castle Has No Clothes: Empty School District Headquarters Gutted for Retrofit

Grossmont High School's original home is a year away from completion in state-mandated repairs.

Construction continues on the new retrofitted offices for the Grossmont Union High School District.

Demolition on the "castle" building, at 1100 Murray Drive in El Cajon is 98 percent complete, with only load-bearing walls left to be taken down, according to the latest progress report issued by the district (see PDF).  The building was originally built in 1922 as Grossmont High School.

This week, completion of grading and paving of the east parking lot is expected to occur. Electrical, concrete work, sewer work and additional site grading and paving are set to continue as well, the district said.

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Catherine Martin, spokesperson for the district, told Patch that the building is set to be fully completed in December 2013, when district staff will move back.

Currently, staff are being housed in the 300 building at Grossmont High School.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

An initial report submitted by the district about the project in October 2010 said completion on the project was estimated at October 2012, with a move-in date of November 2012 (see PDF).

Funding for the modernization project has come from several sources and total about $12.5 million. At the top of the list of donors is the El Cajon Redevelopment Agency, which will provide $5 million in tax increments.

The Gillespie Field Redevelopment Project provided $2 million, along with $4.5 million applied from propositions H and U, and an additional $1 million from the accumulated interest and earnings.

See also: Grossmont High Gears Up for Seismic Renovations to Its Historical District Office Building


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