The Mission at Kern County took a major step forward Monday as leaders gathered to watch the final building at its East 21st Street facility be demolished, clearing the way for a new 13,000-square-foot building.Executive Directo r Carlos Baldovinos, staff members and project leaders were on hand for the demolition. Baldovinos said the moment is not bittersweet, but a celebration of what is to come for the Mission."This home served its purpose. It served with a lot of different things that we did through the years, programming and such, but I do think that where this new property is going to be, it's a great spot," Baldovinos said.Construction on the new facility is slated to begin in late spring or early summer and is expected to take anywhere from 9 to 12 months to complete.This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.Stay in Touch with Us Anytime, Anywhere: Download Our Free App for Apple and Android Sign Up for Our Daily E-mail Newsletter Like Us on Facebook Follow Us on Instagram Subscribe to Us on YouTube ...read more read less