12:00pm | On the offshoot of San Francisco Avenue near the 710 freeway and Anaheim, sits an empty warehouse — and given that it sits on property owned by the Foodbank of Southern California, one would think that it would be of good use to the non-profit organization. After all, this independent food provider feeds over 2 million people each month in Los Angeles County, with distribution points ranging from shelters for abused women and children to crises centers to soup kitchens.
And to argue that such an organization is not needed is to be naive: the majority of the 580,000 unemployed men and women — of which the rate of unemployment has been unaltered since the start of the year — belong to households ranging in three to nine persons. In other words, it is quite clear that they need sustenance. The Foodbank acts as a buffer to this unfortunate facade of reality, where the feeding agencies the organization works with state that their clients are predominantly children, the working poor, and the recently unemployed.
So why, exactly, does this warehouse remain empty? The warehouse, common sense would say, could maximize the Foodbank’s capacity to secure more food donations and meet the demand to feed more hungry people. Even more importantly, it seems to be cost-effective by increasing temporary storage space, increasing storage efficiency, and by providing ample space to unload, repackage, and prepare food for distribution without delay to the charitable agencies being served.
So again: why the empty warehouse?
In May of 2005, the Foodbank’s Board of Directors authorized the organization to seek funding to support the expansion of the warehouse on the Foodbank’s side property, which consisted of some 10,000-square-feet that would be adjoined to their existing facility.
Following general contracting bids and a project budget of $685,0001 was established, construction began in the spring of 2006, when fundraising — sourced entirely through individuals, private foundations, allocated general funds, and an American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Grant through the Emergency Food and Assistance Program (EFAP) — had reached 75% of the original budget’s anticipated expenses.
After significant delays which, according to Foodbank President John Knapp, were “predominately due to an understaffed — and sometimes uncooperative — Building and Planning Department, there were significant cost overruns associated with the City requirements. In June 2008, the Foodbank had to launch a new fundraising effort so that the project could be completed without incurring any debt. The revised budget was $898,066.”
After five years of planning, fundraising, and construction, the Foodbank of Southern California finally completed construction of a 10,000 square foot warehouse in the winter of 2010. However, when the organization attempted to apply for its occupancy permit, they were informed by the City that the organization take on “additional cosmetic improvements to City property” nearby — to the tune of $155,700. Required improvements include concreting the alleyway and sidewalks, moving two power poles 2 feet, landscaping, and additional security lights for the parking lot. Given the organization is not only the only supplier of Title 2 USDA Commodities to those in Long Beach but — more importantly — doesn’t receive funding from the City makes the City’s request more perplexing.
The Foodbank has met with Councilmember Robert Garcia and his staff, attempt to propose a waiving of the improvements to the City-owned property and power poles, as they have no impact on the operation of the warehouse. A decision on accepting this proposal has not been received.
As the battle to get this warehouse in functioning mode continues, donations to the Foodbank’s Facility Expansion Project can be made by clicking here, sending a private donation made to: The Foodbank, 1444 San Francisco Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90813 indicating “Building Fund” in the memo section, or calling the organization at (562) 435-3577.
FOOTNOTES:
1The budget covered cover design, engineering, soil reports, plan check fees, permit fees, concrete floors, wood framed rood, roof insulation and built-up membrane, painting the new exterior walls, two(2) hollow metal man doors and frames with hardware, one (1) roll up door at the alley, eight (8) skylights with security bards, two (2) wall openings in the existing warehouse, relocating mechanical equipment in the construction area to the roof of the new additions, electrical lighting, and twelve (12) convenience outlets in the new area. In August of 2011, the Board increased the budget again to $1,292,224.