In Juneau, the City Hall was built in the 1950s. The exterior is covered in peeling paint and decaying window frames. Inside, walls are sagging and a tarp hides an leaking pipe that caused damage to some records of the clerk’s records. A box made of plywood covers an urinal that is broken, to prevent users from making use of the urinal.
As he sat down on the carpet in his office city manager Rorie Watt explained that a single repair job could trigger many others.
It’s a span style=”font-weight 400 ;”>”We are unable to replace the carpet without removing it, since asbestos is in the mastic that keeps the carpet in place, which means you’d need to tent the entire building,” he said. “It turns into this cascading series of things once you touch it. .”
One block further it, the city leases spaces at Marine View. Marine View building with constant plumbing problems. Workers there last week complained to OSHA about the absence of sinks and bathrooms that work. Watt stated that the city and the owner of the building will probably be penalized.
“It appears that the water shuts off nearly each week.” Watt said.
Watt has suggested to include a $10 million figure in the next year’s budget to build a building a new municipal hall. This will reduce the amount the city could request for from voters in bonds, should they decide to put it on the ballot in this year’s. The last time, Juneau residents narrowly voted against the city’s request to take out loans of up to $35 million to fund the project.
However, maintenance issues are just a small part of the debate during Juneau Assembly resumes discussions on a new city hall. Juneau Assembly resumes discussions on the construction of a New city hall.
The city is paying $820,000 each year to lease office space. Also, Watt stated that having all employees together in one place would make the city more efficient and allow staff to collaborate. This would make the building the one-stop destination for Juneau residents wanting to get in touch with city officials.
A second building to buy in Juneau isn’t a viable alternative, based on an expert in real estate that the Assembly requested to examine markets.
Tracey Ricker, a broker of Ricker Real Estate Consulting, explained what she learned in a note sent to members of the Assembly Finance Committee. The city will require an area of 46,200 sq ft. It’s a difficult task within the city, and especially downtown.
Many of the properties that could be used to benefit the City have already been let and sometimes to multiple tenants for at the very least the next five years. Downtown, a lot of these tenants are government entities.
“Even even if there were more demand for selling on the market it would result in an enormous shift of State workers who have no options for relocating,” Ricker wrote.
Two properties that the city can purchase however both come with major disadvantages.
The first is Nugget Mall where the renovations will cost around $7 million, as per Ricker. The project would also require the relocation of certain businesses located in this mall that are currently on monthly leases.
The other can be found in it’s the Capital Office Park building the Alaska Department of Fish and Game utilizes. Ricker stated that the owners of the building may be willing to sell it, but it would not be accessible in 2028 to the City of Anchorage. The city will also have to create a new location to hold Assembly gatherings there.
Watt believes that an additional city hall will likely be constructed in Whittier Avenue near Centennial Hall as well as Zach Gordon Youth Center. Zach Gordon Youth Center. At the same time, Watt has considering investing $50,000 to educate people on the need for and that a new building is necessary.
The Assembly will decide for the next budget in June. In the event that you are a member of the Assembly decides to place the city hall bond on the ballot in this year’s budget the bond must be presented before its July 10th meeting.
