The City of Greenville issued the following media release Tuesday.
The City of Greenville is exploring options to move City offices and services to the Falls Park area, at the edge of the Liberty Bridge. Council will consider the sale of City Hall at 206 S. Main Street and the purchase of the Bowater Building at 55 E. Camperdown Way.
“This is a once in a generation opportunity,” said Mayor Knox White. “Not only does the move to the Bowater Building put city employees and operations next to Greenville’s greatest natural resource, but it will also allow us to provide better customer service to citizens and those seeking to do business with us.”
Benefits of Relocation
Modernized, ground level Council Chambers allow easier access for citizens to attend public meetings
True One-Stop-Shop for residents, businesses, development community and visitors
Significantly improved safety and security for the visiting public and City employees
Improve inter-departmental collaboration and employee morale
Redevelopment of current City Hall by a private entity
Bring additional office, retail, and affordable housing to downtown
Revitalize an aging building in a key location
Iconic location in the center of Falls Park at Liberty Bridge
Reduced utility costs, rental income
Challenges with Current Location
City Hall is not large enough to accommodate today’s business needs; some staff are having to use walk up service counters as their desks
Not customer service oriented – planning and development functions are located on multiple floors making it difficult for the public to conduct business
Extensive maintenance needs over the next 8 years at a projected cost of $5.75M
Security does not meet today’s needs; difficult and costly to retrofit
Council Chambers is difficult to access; emergency evacuation would be challenging