Gloucester City Hall, at 140 years old, needs more than a facelift. It needs an overhaul.
And City Councilor and former city clerk Bob Whynott was correct when he said this week, "This building is not suitable for office use — not in this century."
But it could be. And an investment in what continues to serve, for the most part, as the beating heart of municipal government, is well worth it.
For while it might be more practical in the short term to consolidate city services at the property of the former Fuller School off Blackburn Circle, it makes far more sense for the long term to keep the bulk of the city's government offices downtown.
Done right, the renovation could mean that City Hall will be good for another century. And it's good to see that many local residents and at least some local officials, get that. At a "listening post" meeting hosted this week by Mayor Carolyn Kirk, the overwhelming sentiment was that City Hall belongs downtown, not out next to Route 128.
No, the 16 speakers who outlined their views at the Tuesday night community forum, clearly do not represent some sort of clear mandate from a cross-section of residents. But, as John Orlando of the Harborview Inn and the Downtown Development Commission observed, "Downtown is where our money is invested. If we take investment out, who will come?"
The latest mayoral "listening post" followed the release of a report last month that recommended the consolidation of municipal offices in a "campus" arrangement in one of the the two locales — centered either around City Hall, or within a refurbished Fuller School building.
That much, indeed, should not even provoke debate. City offices are currently scattered from City Hall to the CATA building on Pond Road — from the Department of Public Works on Poplar Street to the school district administrative offices at Fuller. That, obviously, hinders coordination and communication among city departments. And it makes it more inconvenient and costly for those doing business with the city, with some people — especially contractors, for example, having to drive from place to place to get anything done.
The big argument against keeping City Hall as City Hall is expense. And it would indeed be very expensive. The current estimate is that renovation and expansion of the building would cost $5.2 million. And that would be in addition to another $5.4 million to $7.4 million to convert the Central Fire Station into an office building.
But converting the Fuller building would be expensive too, at an estimated $6.8 million. And viewed over the life of any renovations — which should last 40 to 50 years if done well — it is not really that expensive for the municipal center of a city. New high schools are going for $50 million to $200 million these days. A renovation plan to make City Hall more fully functional would seem dirt cheap by comparison.
Beyond that is the question of what would become of the iconic downtown structure if the city abandons it. If it is to survive in any form, it will take an estimated $4.2 million of renovation. And then, there is no guarantee that it would become either a successful commercial site — with a coffee shop, book shop or function space, as suggested at the meeting — or a museum or art gallery, perhaps in connection with the nearby Cape Ann Museum.
There is a very real and practical consideration for the Fuller building, and its surrounding property. It would make an excellent location for a new public safety center, given that Blackburn Circle itself provides good access to the eastern and western sectors of the city — and to Lanesville as well.
Nut when it comes to City Hall itself, its future should be its past — and its present.
The historic building is a big piece of Gloucester's identity, character and history. And having the city's government seat downtown brings traffic to the downtown area, emphasizing that it is, indeed, the city's true hub.
Let's make sure it stays that way. A downtown city government campus is indeed an important part of the city's center — and this historic, recognizable piece of the city's soul is worth the investment necessary to preserve it for coming generations.
