Borough gets first look at proposed city hall addition

By Lauren Cappuccio

lcappuccio@publicopinionnews.com @LCappuccioPO on Twitter

CHAMBERSBURG >> The borough got a first look at what the future of city hall may look like the first major renovation in 40 years.

Dennis Sowers from SGS Architects in Carlisle, presented a Queen Street Feasibility Analysis to council, which proposed a three-story addition on East Queen Street and a two-story addition to the south along South Second Street.

The plan proposes a public entrance that will allow visitors to reach all departments and have a landscaped plaza containing various plants and benches.

Using 2014 construction data, the architecture firm says it will cost roughly $240 per square foot for the new additions and $185 per square foot for the renovations of the existing facility. Using a 3 percent inflation factor, architects believe construction costs in 2020 will be $14.4 million.

The borough acquired the buildings at 216 and 220 E. Queen St. in July of last year for $275,000 and $220,000, respectively.

SGS recommended that by 2020 or 2021, selected departments and the utility support departments help fund a new addition next door on Queen Street.

"The utilities of the Borough have seen significant growth in personnel and legal and engineering complexity over the last half century, all while delivering state of the art services at some of the areas lowest utility rates," Stonehill said.

City Hall was built in 1830 and is listed on the U.S. registry of historic structures, Stonehill said. The last time the structure was updated was in 1957 and the police station was added in 1971.

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Borough gets first look at proposed city hall addition