A few months ago, the City Council members and Mayor Scott LeMay made a decision to revisit the subject of the day labor center in six months. At a recent meeting, the subject came around again. The center, which has caused various problems at its current location at Saturn Road and Miller Road, must be relocated or closed. Loitering at the center, as well as at the convenience across Saturn Road, has led to unsafe conditions for nearby residents and passersby.
Discussion about potential locations included two options: to relocate the center to a city-owned property in an existing building or to lease an existing building from a private entity. The locations are general and City Manager Bryan Bradford told the council that they could get into deeper detail if desired, in executive session.
With each option, requirements include:
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- Central location in an industrial area
- Enough space to house the entire operation indoors
- Suitable distance from residential areas
- Suitable distance from places to “hang out”
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Some of the locations mentioned are earmarked for other uses – Highway 66, future site of animal shelter; 2836 East Centerville which is surplus property; 1701 West State, next to GPD headquarters; 2401 Forest, the future police evidence facility.
In researching option 2, a few possibilities were found. They ranged in size from 4,000 – 6,000 square feet. Most of the sites are in the west or central parts of Garland. General locations are Forest Lane at West State; Forest Lane at South International; Forest Lane and South Jupiter; West Miller at South Jupiter; and West Kingsley at South Jupiter. The cost per square foot of these properties ranged from $5 – $8.29, depending on the condition of the space.
District 1 Council Member David Gibbons said that he does not understand the need for such a large space since the existing facility is only about 800 square feet.
The answer was that enough space is needed to house the entire operation indoors.
District 6 Council Member Robert Vera doesn’t want the day labor center in his district and Council Member Rich Aubin, District 5, said that he would not support it in his district.
Gibbons and District 3 Council Member Jerry Nickerson said they felt that portable buildings would be acceptable.
Aubin suggested that the council be certain that they want to be in the “day labor center business” at all.