Kent officials anticipate late 2022 opening for new city hall building

The long-discussed new Kent City Hall could finally open late next year.

The news came during a Tuesday meeting of the city's planning commission. Architect Nancy Nozik of Brandstetter Carroll Inc. presented the project on behalf of the city of Kent. The company has been working with the city for a couple years to develop building plans.

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The planning commission was asked to review and approve the site plan for the building. The item was passed unanimously without much discussion. 

Kent Service Director Melanie Baker said the city expects to bid the project next week and award the contract at the end of July. A late 2022 opening date is anticipated, she said.

The building is proposed for 319 South Water St. at the site of the old police station.

For more than a century, the city of Kent called the corner of South Water and Main streets its home. In 2017, administration began inching toward reclaiming the property as a city hall after the Kent Police Department moved to its new location.

Baker said a final dollar amount for the project has not been determined, but the city is still estimating a cost of about $7.1 million.

The city proposed the former police department building be demolished and a new city administration building go in its place. Parking lot access will be available from East Day Street; pedestrian will be able to access the building from South Water Street and Haymaker Parkway.

Renderings showed the exterior of the proposed building as largely made of medium-brown color brick with some stone accents. The main entrance into the building from Haymaker would have visitors enter into an atrium area that is all glass. “Transparency” is something Kent City Council strived for the building to reflect.

The new building, which city officials and residents have been discussed for years, will house various city offices and contain council chambers.

Municipal government buildings are a permitted use in the Commercial-Downtown zoning district.  

Six new parking spaces for bikes will be provided at the front of the building along Haymaker. 

New landscaping is proposed throughout the site, including several tiered planting beds along Haymaker. Continuing clockwise around the new building, various low plantings intermixed with flowering shrubs and trees are planned. The rear entrance will be bracketed by flowering beds with ornamental deciduous trees. The parking lot and south face of the building will be softened with a mixture of deciduous trees and coniferous shrubs.

In total, the site plan included 26 trees, 104  high shrubs, and 129 low shrubs.

“I think the building looks wonderful there and it compliments the rest of town," Commissioner Amanda Edwards said of the presentation Nozik gave. "I like the height and it just really kind of looked like it belonged on that photo and on that corner.”

She added she was pleased with parking plans as well as landscaping.

Commissioner Michael Bruder echoed her comments, saying the site plan proposed was well thought out. He called the building a good addition to the area and said he was excited for the broadened sidewalks the project would create.

To share news tips, contact reporter Kaitlyn McGarvey at kmcgarvey@recordpub.com or on Twitter at @kaitlynmcg_rc.