LaMalfa's office confirms another $2.5 million to Corning Vets Hall rehab

The Corning Veterans Memorial Hall rehabilitation project got another large financial boost with the announcement from Congressman Doug LaMalfa’s office his 2024 Community Project Funding Request in the amount $2,459,064 has been granted.

Tehama County Administrative Analyst Tom Provine made the announcement to the county’s Board of Supervisors last week.

“I was notified through an email and then called Congressman LaMalfa’s office to confirm,” Provine said. “We applied for the funding through the congressman’s office and were extremely pleased to hear the Corning Veterans Memorial Hall rehab project once again was approved for the funding.”

This is the second round of Community Project Funding the county has received through LaMalfa’s office. The first was in 2023 in the amount of $2 million.

Add that to the $2 million the Board of Supervisors approved for the project in American Rescue Act Plan Funding and the project now has a budget of $6.5 million.

That amount now matches the sum stated in a report by Nichols, Melbeurg and Rossetto Architects and Engineers on the condition of the 9,000 square-foot building and the $6.4 million it needs in repairs.

Access to the new funding will be somewhat delayed as it has to pass through an administrative agency, such as the Federal Housing and Urban Development Agency, which could take up to three months for the application process to receive the funds.

According to the “explanation for the request,” the funding will be used to rehabilitate several of the hall’s deficiencies, restore windows, walls and floors and renovate the kitchen and restrooms of the “iconic 1931 Veterans Memorial Hall.”

Provine explained the new funding will require the project’s plans and designs be revised and updated by Nichols, Melburg and Rosetto delaying the previous plans to start onsite work this summer.

By consensus the Board of Supervisors decided with the additional funding the hall’s parking lot at the intersection of Houghton Avenue and Yolo Street should be one of the highest priorities of the design process as its potholes and ruts could be considered hazardous.

“We have a project budget and we want to get going right away,” said Provine. “Looking at the previous architectural analysis of the building and my discussion with the county building official, I believe we will want to do some further analysis of the building, some testing and inspections to be sure we don’t have any surprises during construction.”

“The sentimental value of the Hall is worth much more than the cost to repair it. It is a Corning icon,” said former Supervisor Bob Williams, who is a Corning native.

The report by NMR stated the top problem within the building is its electrical power system, with an estimated repair cost of $245,960.

Second on the list was structural repairs at $87,564. Those repairs included installing new wood-bearing wall below existing joists with rotted ends; seal existing cracks in southern brick wall near foundation and in southern brick wall around window openings; and temporary shoring and repairs to existing roof truss if investigations show signs of structural damage.

The last on the high priority list was the building's interior, with an estimated repair cost of $353,508. Amongst those repairs is removing and replacing existing wall finish on walls requiring new electrical wiring; existing wall finish at southwestern corner of mezzanine and at lobby near existing drinking fountain to look for possible dry rot/damage and make corrective repairs; and remove existing wall finish at southern walls and ceiling of small meeting rooms, evaluate damage and make corrective repairs.

NMR's vast list then goes on to medium priority repairs and low priority repairs, including plumbing, lighting, windows, floors, kitchen and restrooms.

The community has also shown its support of the rehabilitation project by raising $20,000 in donations to replace the hall’s flagpole.

The new flagpole has been installed in its newly prepared base with the donated help of Walberg, Inc., and Pacific Gas and Electric Company.

Veterans and residents gathered on Dec. 6 to see the placement and completion of the new flagpole.

The 92-year-old Veterans Memorial Hall is a red brick structure located on Solano Street at Houghton Avenue and is used regularly by the local veterans organizations and as a rental facility for community and private events.