Options for City Hall

The Facilities Master Plan, originally developed in 2008 and updated in 2024–2025, guides decisions about the future of City-owned buildings. As City Hall continues to age, the plan outlines several options for addressing operational needs while supporting community values and long-term goals.

Options Under Consideration

Consolidated Civic Campus
Consolidating City services and staff into a modern, publicly accessible civic campus at a different location could improve operational efficiency, enhance accessibility and support long-term cost control. A civic campus located away from the downtown area could create opportunities to repurpose City-owned properties downtown, strengthen economic vitality and reduce parking pressures. If Council selects this option, staff recommend following the phasing plan outlined in the Facilities Master Plan. The plan details facility changes needed for staff relocation and the divestment of select properties. Selling some City-owned properties could generate funds to support the development of architectural and engineering plans for the preferred campus design, including formal construction cost estimates.

Rebuild and Consolidate at Existing City Hall
Rebuilding or significantly redeveloping City Hall would require compliance with deed restrictions, including the potential requirement to reestablish a jail, as well as addressing parking and mandatory historic preservation considerations. The restoration and partial reconstruction costs are estimated to exceed $10 million. Even with those investments, City Hall would remain too small to house all departments, continuing operational inefficiencies across multiple locations and increased annual costs to the City.

Continue Current Approach
Maintaining City Hall would require ongoing upkeep while continuing to operate services across multiple locations. Annual operating costs average $31,000, not including significant long-term maintenance needs estimated between $756,500 and $1,346,000 over the next five years. These figures do not include ADA compliance, seismic upgrades, mechanical, electrical, plumbing improvements or repair items under $1,000. The building is currently considered unsafe without these critical upgrades. Deferred conditions could lead to system failure within a year or significantly higher repair costs. This option would still need to resolve parking limitations and a potential deed requirement to reestablish a jail. This option may no longer be viable if the building is determined to be unsafe for use. 

Key Considerations Across All Options

  • Location of staff and City services
  • Parking availability and downtown impacts
  • Maintenance and rental costs of multiple buildings versus a consolidated campus
  • Renovation costs versus new construction
  • Accessibility, safety and long-term functionality
  • Opportunities to support a vibrant downtown; learn more about Economic Development and Grant opportunities in Ashland