Kent in planning phase of new City Hall

Kent’s City Hall will be seeing a complete makeover that should be taking place by the end of 2020.

Since 1992 the former grocery stores and dental offices have been servings as Kent’s City Hall. When they were originally acquired by the city of Kent, they were “promising residents that this would only be temporary,” city councilman, Roger Sidoti said.

As time went on, Kent residents forgot about the promise and this location remained as city hall. When reevaluating the buildings, it was found that keeping them functional was not a good financial move.

“These 60 year old buildings were showing their age and the city was looking at spending a quarter of a million dollars to keep the buildings functioning,” Dave Ruller, the city manager, said. “So when a developer offered to buy the land for $1 million more than the appraised value, it was a deal that made financial sense and the timing was right.” 

With the approximate $2.4 million made off the sale of the land, Sidoti said that it is time Kent fulfilled its promise to give the residents a new city hall.

In May 2015, when the land was sold, the services related to city hall relocated into various other city facilities. By transitioning into the Service Administration Complex, Police Administration Building and Central Fire Station, it gave the city time to find out what was next for City Hall

This is when the study from 2014, “Town Hall 2020” began to take hold and the planning phase begun.

The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2020 and planning has already begun. The $2.4 million acquired will go directly into the funding of the new building. Additionally, “with voters approving the building of a new police station, the property the old police station sits on coule either be sold and the proceeds used to help offset the costs of the new city hall, or the city hall could be built on that site, saving the expense of purchasing additional property,” Sidoti said.

Sidoti is often the one speaking with residents of Kent and asking the “what do you think?” type of questions to form an analysis of the responses. After getting feedback from the community, they have chosen to build on the old site, Sidoti said.

After doing an analysis of everything that will inhabit the new city hall, the service director, Melanie Baker, determined that the building will need to be 20 to 25,000 square feet. Next year will be the main design phase where bigger decisions will be made.

“It should include elements that reflect our city’s culture, with tips of the hat to our environmental consciousness, welcoming and open to all citizens, accessible, with ease of use, businesslike and reflective of our history,” Sidoti said.

A deal has been made with an architecture firm according to Baker, but it has not been disclosed to the public yet since they are still in the middle of the planning process. However, public updates from the firm are given about once a month and citizens are welcomed and encouraged to attend, Sidoti said.

Depending on the final decisions on the size and scope of the project, it will likely cost around $5 million. Ruller said that the remaining costs could be taken care of through cash reserves or a small debt issuance depending on financing rates and the city council’s funding strategies.

It is still in the premature planning phases but the new city hall is definitely underway. While decisions have not been made as to how big or fancy the building will be, some council members have their own opinions.

“Personally, I don’t believe we need a lavish, overly expensive building, but one that will be serviceable for 100 plus years” Sidoti said. “I believe it should be an office building that fits the urban chic of downtown, but is distinctive and something the community can be proud of.”

 

Kent to get new City Hall. Planning phase underway https://t.co/VFd5ZjdgVs

— Dylan Thacker (@DylanThacker03) April 11, 2018