Norfolk Daily News

Tuesday – February 12, 2008

As the Norfolk City Council weighs the possibility of new municipal offices, the four building options on the table have been evaluated by city staff members.

The following are the pluses and minuses listed for each one.

Purchase and remodel former First Christian Church on North 13th ($2.27 million):

Pluses are large site on major arterial street, ample paved parking, lower cost than new construction and size meets city needs.

Minuses are away from downtown, oldest facility, least energy efficient, highest remodeling cost option, two-story facility and away from other services like post office, library and senior citizens center.

Purchase and remodel Nebraska Health and Human Services office at Fifth Street and Braasch Avenue ($2.17 million):

Pluses are downtown location, ample paved parking, lower cost remodeling and lower cost than new construction, size meets city needs, close to other services, more energy efficient and better constructed than church facility, originally designed as an office building, adjacent to other city operations, 30 years newer than church and less initial maintenance costs than church.

The only minus listed is that it’s currently occupied by a state agency that would have to find other office space.

Building new at council chambers site at Fourth Street and Madison Avenue ($3.11 million):

Pluses are downtown location, city owns most of property, parking is available, close to other city operations, new facility would allow creation of own floor plan and be most energy efficient.

Minuses are that it would require acquisition of the Founders Club property to the east, is not adjacent to city operations and is higher-cost option than remodeling.

Building new office on Salvation Army lot at Seventh Street and Norfolk Avenue ($3.03 million):

Pluses are downtown location, adjacent to other city operations, city owns part of property, a new facility would allow creation of own floor plan and be most energy efficient.

Minuses are having to buy part of the Salvation Army parking lot, aesthetics of adjacent property, marginal parking, probably will require negotiation with bank over parking and higher-cost option than remodeling.