VISTA — San Diego County is moving forward with a sweeping plan to overhaul the Vista Detention Facility, a decades-old jail plagued by aging infrastructure and growing safety concerns.
The San Diego County jail is located at 325 S. Melrose Dr., near State Route 78, and currently houses more than 800 inmates or those awaiting court hearings. The county released its Notice of Preparation on Dec. 4 and will accept public comments through Jan. 20.
The proposed renovation would expand inmate capacity, replace outdated security systems and rebuild critical facilities at the jail, which opened in 1978 and now houses more than 800 people. San Diego County Sheriff Kelly Martinez said the cost estimate is at least $950 million and is necessary to address deficiencies highlighted by a 2022 state audit…