The existing City Hall has attracted five bids ranging from $2 million to $2.55 million for its purchase, with two bidders — Stroh Architecture and Silo
Holdings — named as finalists. (Photo by Ray Newton)
Two finalists were selected from among the five bids from four bidders interested in purchasing the existing Prescott City Hall, City officials announced.
The finalists were Stroh Architecture and Silo Holding. The bids ranged from $2 million to $2.55 million: Stroh Architecture, Prescott, $2 million; Jacor Partners, Phoenix, $2.35 million; Silo Holdings, Show Low, $2.5 million; and to two bids from Ponderosa Hotel Management Prescott, both $2.55 million.
All bidding proposals indicated they would involve complete demolition of existing structures.
Centrally located at the corner of Goodwin and Cortez streets in downtown Prescott, investors consider the land quite valuable. Council members and officials have emphasized they anticipate it will be developed into a mixed-use project that includes retail, restaurants with possible residential uses, Deputy City Manager Tyler Goodman said.
The City still is deciding what to do with the full-wall mural covering the interior northern wall of the City Council Chambers and the outdoor cowboy statue at the west entrance.
The Mayor’s Commission on Facility Optimization and Property Usage is continuing closed discussions about the sale. When complete, rankings will be public information. When the sale is completed, proceeds will be used to help pay for the $7.55 million purchase and renovation of the new building on Montezuma Street.
Meanwhile, some city staff and some offices still function in the current building.
Lease Changes, Renovation Underway at Future City Hall
At the same time, consideration is focusing on final bids for the existing City Hall; other discussion is continuing about renovation of the future facility.
Most tenants of the Montezuma Street building have relocated. Ten companies have left since the City bought the former National Bank Building in June 2021. Only four tenants remain.
One, Guild Mortgage, agreed to move from its former third floor office space to the second floor so construction can begin on what will be a large City Chambers space on that third floor. New space is designed for a 256-person occupancy — double what the current chambers seating space hold.
City Deputy Recreation Services Director Tim Legler said the City had a $1.1-million agreement with Haley Construction, a Prescott-based company, to complete reconstruction of that third-floor space previously occupied by Guild Mortgage.
Chamber space will be connected to City Council offices through a connecting hallway. Construction is underway.
Construction is also scheduled for space on the second floor for Human Resources and Community Development offices.
Estimated cost for renovations will total around $4.5 million. These funds will come from several sources — the general fund, the street special revenues fund, the water enterprise fund, and the solid waste enterprise fund.
Complete relocation of existing City Hall services and offices into the new building is months away, Goodman said: “We do plan to move more personnel in coming months. What is still unknown is when the Community Development and Utility Billing counters and public services will be moved to the new building. We’ll be sure to give substantial public notice prior to that occurring.”
