Tumwater council directs staff to pursue option to secure nearby 95,000‑sq‑ft building for city offices

Tumwater Mayor and city council members spent much of their May 26 work session weighing four options to address overcrowding and outdated facilities at the existing city hall, then directed staff to pursue due diligence on a nearby vacant 95,000‑square‑foot building on Israel Road (referred to as Option D).

Consultants from Artisans Group presented a high‑level spatial analysis and financial comparison of four courses of action: (A) stay in the existing building and add a large rear addition; (B) acquire land and build a new city hall; (C) build a new police station and remodel the existing space; and (D) acquire and reuse a vacant 95,000‑square‑foot former state building at 310 Israel Road. The consultants said the site could accommodate the city’s 10‑year program (roughly 48,000 square feet of program space) and could be occupied faster than new construction or extensive additions.

Paul (city staff) told council he had completed 39 one‑on‑one staff meetings and said, “21 of the 29 employees said that the space is not working for them,” citing cramped cubicles, a lack of private or ADA‑accessible spaces, few conference rooms, and the absence of lactation and wellness facilities. Consultants said parking is a major constraint: the existing site has about 74 stalls while a prior plan estimated roughly 175 would be needed for a substantially expanded facility, a gap that could force removal of planned park space to create parking.

Consultants estimated comparative per‑square‑foot costs (vertical construction only) of about $300 for a remodel, roughly $650 for an addition/retrofit, and about $800 for a new police station; they noted those numbers exclude off‑site improvements. They also used a 9% annual construction inflation assumption and cautioned that long timelines for building new facilities would materially increase total costs. The presenters told council that, because reuse of the nearby vacant building could proceed more quickly, Option D may be less expensive in real dollars than a drawn‑out new construction program.

Council members voiced several emphases: several (Peter, Angela, Megan and others) said they favored exploring Option D; others flagged the need for broad community engagement and sensitivity to the city hall’s landmark value. Staff clarified that pursuing Option D would not mean an immediate purchase but would likely start with an option or contract to secure price and provide a limited period for due diligence, community outreach and further analysis. As one council member summarized, the next procedural step is exploratory work rather than a final acquisition.

The meeting included several operational clarifications: the 310 Israel Road building was described as constructed in 2004 and in good structural condition but likely in need of mechanical upgrades; consultants estimated that Tumwater could occupy much of the site within about two years, and that the building could serve the city for decades if adapted. Staff also highlighted the cost of multiple leased spaces the city currently uses and noted consolidation could reduce rents and improve administrative coordination.

No formal vote or ordinance was recorded at the work session. Instead, council members agreed to ask staff to pursue further study: secure an option period or similar contract for the 310 Israel Road property, conduct due diligence (including mechanical and site assessments), prepare cost comparisons that include off‑site improvements and lease savings, and develop a public engagement plan tied to upcoming budget work. Staff and consultants said they would return with detailed findings for council consideration.

The council adjourned the work session at 7:07 p.m.