Beverly officials outline $25M–$27M plan to rebuild City Hall, emphasize accessibility and records protection

Beverly leaders and the city’s owner’s project manager and architects presented an update Monday on plans to demolish the former police annex and rebuild an expanded, all‑electric City Hall with improved accessibility, new meeting spaces and modernized mechanical systems.

The presentation, delivered by Mariana Hajiliadis of Colliers Project Leaders and architect David Lightman of Feingold Alexander, outlined a design that keeps the existing City Hall footprint largely intact while reconstructing the annex, adding two full floors and a third‑floor elevator/stair tower; the plan would increase city staff capacity from about 65 to 89 and house 17 departments under one roof.

The update matters to residents and councilors because it sets the project scope and budget direction for a building that officials say has not been substantially upgraded since 1939. Mayor Cahill and Finance Director Brian Ailes told the council the city has been working toward a $25 million construction placeholder and the team’s schematic design currently produces a construction estimate near $27 million.

Ailes, the city finance director,…