City hall options a tough choice for Kennewick. What happens next?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Council reviewed 3 concepts, but didn’t pick a direction to take.
- A new two-story city hall is estimated to cost about $36 million and take 18–24 months.
- Renovating the 60-year-old building would require staff relocation and significant work.
Kennewick City Council got a first look this week at concepts to replace its old city hall building south of downtown, but appeared split on which choice to make.
Mayor Jason McShane said there are too many open questions about the “whole picture” of the city’s civic campus, and what the long-term needs will be of other buildings on the site.
That includes questions about the city-owned Keewaydin branch of the Mid-Columbia Libraries, the small museum operated by the East Benton County Historical Society and the Kenneth Serier Memorial Pool.
The city hall concepts do not include a pool replacement or recreation center, which could be rebuilt in the future at the current pool site. Councilman Loren Anderson also questioned if the city should permanently block and remove 6th Avenue to give the campus more green space. There’s been little discussion about the future of the library building.
Architects West presented the three construction ideas. It’s the same firm that designed the new city hall in Richland.
The city could build north of the current city hall or on the northwest corner of Auburn Street and 6th Avenue. Another option includes renovating the current 60-year-old city hall at 210 West Sixth Ave, but that would require employees to be temporarily relocated.
The firm’s hope was to whittle it down to one choice to refine and come back to the city council on June 23 with a recommendation. But more than two hours of discussion produced more questions and ideas about the broader civic campus.
Still, replacement project remains on schedule, said City Manager Erin Erdman.
“The next steps for the project include more review of the concepts, answering questions and refining the process,” she told the Tri-City Herald. “Architects West is scheduled to return to city council on June 23 with the expectation that council will continue to explore design concepts and potentially settle on a final direction.”
Next month’s recommendation will not be the final project, but rather the aggregation of thoughts into a concept that the city will be able to take to the public for feedback, McShane said.
Kennewick’s city hall is decrepit and nearing a breaking point, said city leaders.
Its replacement has become a top capital projects priority for Kennewick officials. A new two-story building would cost about $36 million, and construction could take up to two years.
City hall lacks space for employees, has a failing HVAC system that needs $1 million in fixes and a data center that needs to be replaced next year.
City hall also has a $4 million leaky roof that has poured rainwater on employee desks and is six years overdue for a complete replacement. The material board on top of the steel decking has completely turned to mud, said the architects.
3 Kennewick City Hall concepts
A new city hall won’t require a tax increase under the city’s existing plan.
The project will be paid up front with a 20-year limited tax obligation bond sale and repaid with existing revenues, according to previous Herald reporting. The debt will be paid with 4.5% interest and require an annual servicing of $2.7 million.
Early concepts include a 700-square-foot “one stop” desk for visitors. It would be a consolidated location with a planning desk and meetings rooms, where cross-trained workers help connect individuals with city staff.
Designs also call for a co-working space, amphitheater-courtyard and plazas, and 500-square-foot for the museum. Keewaydin Drive could see reconfigurations and be shortened.
Construction option No. 1 would build a new city hall behind where the current one is. Once complete, the old building would be demolished and turned into a front lawn.
The plan would leave space for the city to consider another new building on the corner of Auburn and 6th, and using existing roads and lots.
The Keewaydin museum would also be demolished. Some on the council voiced concern that 500 square feet would not be enough space for the East Benton County Historical Society’s exhibits.
Councilman Chuck Torelli said the museum gets a lot of visitors thanks to its programming.
“Five-hundred square feet is a closet,” Torelli said.
Some on the council floated the unused fire station at 600 S. Auburn as a possible alternative, future home for the museum.
Construction option No. 2 anchors a new city hall at the nearby intersection with greater visibility.
The concept also offers space to construct a future building at the spot of the current city hall. It also appears to leave the museum at its current spot.
Renovation of the current building could be cheaper upfront, but is a short-term fix and could cost the city more in the long run.
The building needs to be brought up to current building and energy code standards, and will require seismic upgrades. Most of the interior will need to be reorganized, and the firm recommends the former city jail be removed to accommodate new program space.
