Placerville
is trading a crowded century-old building for a new civic center with room to
grow.
By Cathy Locke -- Bee Staff Writer
City employees are preparing to trade historic but cramped quarters on Placerville's Main Street for newly remodeled and spacious offices on Center Street.The approximately 25 employees in the Public Works, Community Development, Finance and Administration departments are scheduled to move to the new City Hall on Thursday and Friday.
"We are living out of boxes," City Clerk Susan Zito said last week. "We got all packed and then realized we would have to wait another week."
Recent rains delayed completion of sidewalks around the new City Hall, she explained.
The old City Hall at 487 Main St. has housed city government for more than a century, but growing pains led the city to purchase the former El Dorado Savings Bank building in 2003.
In doing so, the city traded the quaint for the functional. The four-story 1960s-era building at 3101 Center St. had been called the ugliest building in town. But it has been remodeled inside and out. The facade has been modified with the addition of stairway towers and masonry.
Architect Jeffrey Lubenko with Murray & Downs Architects, said the building has been transformed from a concrete "brutalist" design to a style that is "more sympathetic to downtown historic Placerville."
The exterior has been painted what he described as a natural yellow with a light bronze accent. The building appears to take on different hues during the day as the sun passes over it, Lubenko said.
Exterior lighting also will draw attention to the new civic center site. "It now has a presence in the community that it didn't have before," Lubenko said.
With about 10,000 square feet, the new City Hall provides nearly twice the space of the old one.
The city has had difficulty finding room for new employees needed to handle increasing workloads.
The staff now has room to grow.
"We do have extra space," said City Manager John Driscoll. "Once we determine budget constraints, we may add employees."
The new building also includes an elevator. The old City Hall did not comply with the federal Americans With Disabilities Act, and many city offices were inaccessible to people with disabilities.
The Finance Department will occupy the first floor of the new building. The Community Development Department, including planning, building and the permit center, will be on the second floor, with Public Works-Engineering on the third floor, and the Administration, Human Resources and Information Technology departments on the fourth floor.
The city purchased the new building for about $1.4 million, and interior and exterior remodeling cost about $1.1 million, Driscoll said.
The figures do not include the cost of street and sidewalk improvements, many of which will be undertaken next year, Driscoll said. Planters have been installed, and the area around the building will be transformed into a plaza.
New sidewalks and trees also will be installed on the east side of Center Street. The intersection of Center Street and the alleyway south of City Hall will be paved with scored concrete, creating a distinctive pedestrian area, Lubenko said.
The new City Hall is next to the public parking garage, but Driscoll said city employees will park at various locations throughout the downtown area to avoid taking up spaces for customers in the garage.
The future of the old City Hall, a Placerville landmark featured on postcards, will be discussed in 2006.
A committee of community representatives has submitted recommendations, and Driscoll said he expects to present them to the City Council in January.
MOVING OUT, MOVING IN
Placerville city offices will move this week from 487 Main St. to new quarters at 3101 Center St. Here's a look at the old and new city halls:Construction is currently
underway for the remodel of the existing building located 3101
The building, which contains approximately 10,000 square feet,
will house the existing City services presently situated in the current City
Hall located at
The project also includes improvements to the exterior of the building, as well as the streets and sidewalks adjacent to the building. Hutcheson Construction of Cameron Park is performing the interior and exterior improvements.
Future of Old City Hall
The City of Placerville is currently asking the Citizens of Placerville for their valued Comments and Suggestions as to what will be the best use of the Old City Hall in the future.
Please click on the form below for your Comments
and Suggestions.
City
Hall Questionnaire (PDF)
Once you have completed the Questionnaire, Please send it to:
City of Placerville
Attn: Administration
487 Main Street
Placerville, CA 95667
Thank you for your input.
