Houston council ponders new City Hall

November 29, 2005

DARRELL L. BREESE/Frontiersman reporter

HOUSTON - The city of Houston is growing up, so much so that it has outgrown the quaint confines of the city hall building on Armstrong Road.

City Council member Link Fannon reported to the Mat-Su Borough Assembly the city's plans to swap a parcel of land near Loon Lake with Wasilla developer Northland Builders in exchange for construction of a new city hall and remodeling the existing facility to house the police department.

Currently the city hall is home to Mayor Dale Adams, the city clerk, council chambers, vital city records and the expanding Houston Police Department.

&#8220We just needed more space,” Adams said. &#8220We're growing up as a city and no longer have enough office space. Our three police officers are crammed into a 10- by 12-foot room.”

The Houston council authorized the exchange during its Oct. 28 regular meeting, after allowing more than five months for public input.

&#8220Throughout the whole summer we've been allowing time for people to speak on the exchange at every council meeting,” Adams said. &#8220And the only objection we had was a woman who thought we were dealing away a parcel that was designated for an elementary school. Once she realized that we were talking about a different lot, she supported the exchange.”

The exchange of approximately 138 acres on W. Cheri Drive will result in the construction of a new 1,540-square-foot city hall building adjacent to the existing building, which will be converted to a police station when the new building is completed.

&#8220We're getting more than a new city hall out of the deal,” Adams said. &#8220The parcel we're giving in exchange is zoned R1 and is suitable for building, so there wasn't much we could do with it as a city. Northland is going to pay to extend utilities approximately two miles and that will give residents access to natural gas who wouldn't otherwise have it. Plus it will be a boost to our tax base when he constructs all the new homes.”

Fannon, who was recently elected to the council, recognizes the need for a new building but has some reservations about the exchange.

&#8220I have a couple of problems with the deal,” Fannon said. &#8220I recognize that the city is backed into a corner because it doesn't have a lot of money, but I'm not sure giving away property in exchange for a building is the best option.

&#8220I believe that the city could get more value for the property if they were to sell it,” Fannon continued. &#8220The exchange gives the contractor an incentive to cut as many corners as possible when building the new city hall to get the land for the lowest possible price. I know that the exchange was approved for all the right reasons, I just want to see the city get the best possible deal. Maybe someone will want to buy 138.52 acres on a lake for $500,000, that would build a nice building.”

Northland plans to build between 60-70 new homes on the parcel, which is appraised by the borough at $217,000.

Adams said he expects work to begin on the new city hall as soon as the city's attorney completes the contract and it is signed. Then he figures it will be six to eight months before the project is complete.

The deal is not yet set in stone, as the council is scheduled to review and approve the contract during its next meeting, Dec. 15.

&#8220We're a small but growing community and we didn't want the city to go into debt so we could have a new building,” Adams said. &#8220I believe that in the long run this will be the best option for all parties, the city, the developer and the people of Houston.”

Contact Darrell Breese at

352-2267 or darrell.breese@ frontiersman.com.