Developmental Center Closures

The 2003-04 Governor’s Budget directed the Department to develop a plan to close Agnews Developmental Center. The Agnews Closure Plan (Bay Area Project) was developed with input from an Advisory Committee consisting of current and former Agnews residents, their families, Agnews employees, regional centers, advocates, and other stakeholders, and may be viewed on the Agnews Closure Plan Main Page. In March 2009, the last consumer moved and the residential facility was closed. Following the closure, Agnews campus was used to provide outpatient clinic services to consumers who resided in the community through April 2011.

In July 2011 the Regional Project of the Bay Area and the Community State Staff Administration were relocated to a leased office space in the city of Campbell to continue providing transition services and support to consumers in the local area.

With the final sale of the land pending, the Agnews campus was vacated and the land was turned over to the Department of General Services.

Located in Southern California’s vibrant San Gabriel Valley Region, LDC bordered the cities of Pomona, Diamond Bar, and Walnut while resting beneath Mt. “Baldy’s” seasonally snowcapped peak. LDC operated 24-hours a day, seven days a week, in order to serve citizens of California who faced the challenges of developmental disabilities. The 87-year history of LDC’s name changes parallels the tremendous shift in perception as to how the people of California understand their fellow citizens who lived at LDC.

Pacific Colony – Thinking “feeblemindedness” to be a menace, the California Legislature created Pacific Colony as a Southern California facility to detain the “feebleminded”. People with developmental disabilities were “inmates”, needing to be locked away from society forever because of their “insanity.” The Pomona location welcomed its first 27 “inmates”, on May 2, 1927. At that time, only the city of Pomona existed in the local area.

By 1946, over 1,900 people crowded into a facility that had only grown large enough to hold 1,512 people. With World War II finally over, the state allocated more money for expansion and improvements.

Pacific State Hospital – The name change in 1953 marked a statewide shift in understanding that had begun in the 1930’s. No longer were residents of Pacific considered “inmates” but “patients” who were sick and needing treatment to be made well. The new use of the socio-psychological team, social workers, psychologist, and parents and innovative practices such as in-service training for nurses provided some of the practical evidence of this shift. The era also marked the start of a movement toward helping people with developmental disabilities prepare for living in the broader community.

Frank D. Lanterman State Hospital and Developmental Center – Championing the cause of people with developmental disabilities throughout his career, State Assemblyman Frank D. Lanterman ensured their civil rights and guaranteed them life-long services through the creation of the Lanterman Act. He also initiated the network of community resources known as the Regional Centers. In honor of his dedication, Pacific changed its name in 1979.

Lanterman Developmental Center – People with developmental disabilities are now perceived as individuals with special needs rather than “patients” and referred to as “residents.” By dropping “State Hospital” during the 1980’s, developmental centers throughout California adopted this philosophy and promoted the fact that all residents receive progressive habilitation training.

LDC’s last resident moved into the community on December 23, 2014 and the facility began warm shut down operations. The facility property was transferred to the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona on July 1, 2015.

In June 2009, in the midst of California’s severe fiscal crisis, the decision was made to close Sierra Vista as it was determined that the men and women residing at Sierra Vista could be well served in other settings within the community and at other state operated facilities. The last person moved from Sierra Vista on December 8, 2009 and the facility was officially closed on February 28, 2010.

When the Santa Clara home became inadequate a few years later, the legislature appointed a commission and appropriated $170,000 to purchase land, construct facilities and handle commission expenses. The commission included Captain Oliver Eldridge, after whom the community of Eldridge is named. Following lengthy legislative battles over the proposed funding, the commission selected the present site: a 1640-acre parcel which featured an ample water supply, drainage, and two railroad lines that passed through the property.

SDC was transferred to the Department of General Services in 2019.

In the initial land purchase, a provision included a property for a farm program. Fairview, however, never initiated a farm program, and in 1979, 239 acres were sold to the city of Costa Mesa. The first individuals arrived at Fairview on January 5, 1959. By May 30, 1960, almost 1500 individuals resided at the new facility. Fairview’s construction was finally completed in 1964, and at the time the facility had a licensed bed capacity of 2,622. Treatment trends eventually decreased the population of large institutions like Fairview. By March of 2006, the number of individuals at Fairview was 635.
FDC is currently in warm shutdown in order to maximize efforts towards person-centered and trauma informed care in a community-based environment for individuals.

In February 2020, all individuals at Fairview Developmental Center (FDC) moved into community settings. Legislation established Government Code 14670.31, which authorizes the Department to enter into an agreement with the City of Costa Mesa to develop a specific plan for the FDC property. This includes a land use planning and actual disposition that will be handled by the Department of General Services.

The FDC property includes an apartment development called Harbor Village and a 20-acre parcel called Shannon’s Mountain. Shannon’s Mountain is reserved for an additional affordable housing development.