Santa Paula Architectural Firm Approved for Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center in Oxnard

By Redaccion
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At the regular meeting, on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, the Ventura County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a professional services contract with Anderson Kulwiec Appleby Architects (AKA), from Santa Paula.

The architectural firm will be completing architectural and engineering services for the remodel of the recently acquired 545-555 South A Street building in Oxnard, the future home of the Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center (FJC).

“I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for approving the contract, which will enable a reputable Santa Paula-based architectural firm to design the remodel of portions of the building’s first and second floors,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “This moves the project one step closer to providing victim-based services for Ventura County residents.”

The $239,900 contract with AKA Architects will help transform the two-story, 32,000 sq. ft. building into the home of a second FJC located in the county. The construction plan is laid out in four phases: Pre-Design, Schematic Design, Construction Documents, and Construction Administration. AKA’s experience as the architect on previous critical countywide projects will allow the firm to utilize its knowledge base of the region to complete this new design effort more quickly.

“I am pleased to see the architectural and engineering services will be completed by a local, county-based firm,” said District 5 Supervisor Vianey Lopez. “Thank you to our District Attorney Erik Nasarenko and his entire office for moving forward the Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center so expeditiously. Every step we take together with the City of Oxnard, the community-based organizations and individual volunteers will help ensure victims can receive services close to home much sooner.”

The Carmen Ramirez FJC will provide programs and services to those impacted by family violence and trauma. This work will be accomplished in collaboration with the County of Ventura, the City of Oxnard, community-based organizations, and individual volunteers. The property was purchased for $4.1 million in June 2023, with the county and city sharing the acquisition costs. In July 2023, the Board of Supervisors approved naming the property the Carmen Ramirez Family Justice Center.

Following the opening of the first Ventura County FJC in 2019, 33 percent of all clients seeking services have been residents of Oxnard. Countywide, approximately 7,000 allegations of domestic violence are made each year. The creation of this second location in Oxnard will provide an important resource to underserved victims in a more accessible location.