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Athens council discusses millions in options to renovate or relocate City Hall
Summary
Council members debated whether to renovate the existing 1971 City Hall, build an annex on the adjacent parking hill, or buy and renovate a downtown building; staff were asked to return with detailed cost estimates and due diligence.
Athens — Council members spent significant time weighing options for the city’s aging City Hall, which was built in 1971 and faces failing HVAC, plumbing and electrical systems, limited capacity for added staff and noncompliance with Americans with Disabilities Act standards.
City Manager (name not specified in transcript) and multiple council members described three primary options: renovate the existing building; build a new annex on the parking hill behind the current building; or purchase and renovate an existing downtown building such as the BB&T building. Estimates discussed ranged from roughly $4 million to $16 million depending on scope. One council member cited a BB&T acquisition estimate of about $3.44 million plus roughly $3.5 million in renovations—producing an approximate $7 million total—while a full new-build scenario was described as possibly reaching $16 million.
Council members repeatedly emphasized that doing nothing was not an option. Several members urged phasing: secure new space first so city operations can relocate, then renovate the vacant building into a public safety complex. Concerns included drainage and earthwork costs for a hilltop annex, the inability to add stories to the current structure, and the immediate need to address an aging generator and HVAC system. Officials said any chosen project would likely take 18–24 months to complete.
Opposing views surfaced about location and cost. One council member recommended pursuing a downtown purchase to support downtown revitalization; another argued that renovating an existing city-owned “North City” facility could be less costly and provide parking and a community gym, though several members questioned whether North City could be adapted affordably and raised concerns about its residential setting and required infrastructure upgrades.
Action directed of staff included a request for architects’ and cost estimates for multiple scenarios and due diligence on at least two downtown properties plus a North City renovation cost estimate. The city manager agreed to return with “architecturally driven numbers” at the next available work session.
Council members also discussed sequencing: installing emergency repairs (a rental generator was noted as arriving next week) and potential early HVAC work even if full renovation is phased. No formal vote or final decision was recorded in the transcript; council instructed staff to prepare comparative cost analyses and present them at the next work session.
