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Council hears $2.4M-plus options to reopen council chambers in former City Hall
Summary
Consultants told Belmont City Council the former city hall on Main Street could house a larger, flexible council chamber and leasable basement space; preliminary estimates ranged from roughly $2.4 million for first-floor and site work to $2.6–2.7 million including a 10% contingency, with alternatives that would change costs and uses.
Belmont City Council received an informational presentation on Sept. 24 about renovating the historic former city hall on Main Street and options for returning council chambers to that building.
Consultants said the building — a 1930s federal-prototype post office with an existing clerestory — could accommodate a reimagined council chamber with roughly 3,300 square feet and seating shown at about 125, compared with the existing chamber space the council currently uses (about 2,400 sq ft, roughly 72 seats). "If you were to add the terrace as well, for seating, you'd add another 50 seats," a presenter said while showing early renderings.
Staff and consultants discussed two broad approaches: upfit the basement to create leasable office/storage space (which requires two means of egress and HVAC upgrades) or enclose and widen the first-floor terrace to add higher-quality, usable square footage. Consultants noted activating the basement would require adding a second stairway or an exterior stair to meet egress rules; an exterior stair could also provide a separate tenant entrance.
Preliminary budget figures presented to council included first-floor improvements, site costs and an elevator option. Consultants summarized an initial package near $2.4 million with a recommended early-design contingency of 10 percent that would move that option toward about $2.6–$2.7 million. The elevator was estimated at about $130,000; an add-alternate building addition off the back was priced at about $591,000; a modest basement cleanup figure (to make it viable storage) was shown around $100,000.
Council members asked about tenant impacts and lease relationships with current occupants such as the Mont Cross Chamber of Commerce. Staff said existing lease arrangements and potential tenant needs would be part of future budget and retreat discussions. The city manager recommended receiving the presentation as informational ahead of a February retreat where council will consider funding and prioritization.
The presentation emphasized options and trade-offs rather than a council decision; no funding or final direction was adopted at the meeting.
