City releases cost comparison for possible city hall move

NORWICH – The City of Norwich released a detailed cost comparison report Thursday to determine whether to move City Hall to the third floor of the firehouse or keep it in the renovated train depot next to the railroad tracks.

City Finance Director William Roberts gave the report to members of the Public Works/Public Safety Committee.

According to the information listed, the city would save money in both total construction costs and annual operating costs if they were to move city offices to the third floor of the firehouse. According to the document, more than $115,000 worth of work will need to be completed at the firehouse regardless of whether or not offices are moved to the location. The exterior walls were never completed on the third floor, and the city has said electrical and lighting work will need to be done.



If the offices were moved to the firehouse, an additional $154,000 worth of work would need to be completed in order to construct an office environment.

If city hall were to remain in its current location, city officials have said many repairs and renovations will be necessary, including replacing the roof, updating the heating system and making the building more energy efficient. The cost for those repairs is estimated at $244,400, bringing the total construction cost for staying at the current location to $360,172 compared to a total of $269,772 if the offices were to be moved to the firehouse.

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Reader Response

1 comments on this story

ms01w27
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:46 pm
The train station is a wonderful building and is ground level so people with disabilities can access the building easily. I cannot imagine how the city let the building get so run down so it needs such expensive repairs. In my opinion, the train station should be saved. If the city officials wish to look down upon their subjects, then they can move to the third floor of the firehouse, thereby removing them even farther from the citizens at large. Since they are out of touch with reality, it will make no difference where they have their "official" offices. The decisions are all made behind the scenes by the power elite that are the "godfathers" of Chenango County.
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