LACKAWANNA, N.Y. (WBEN) – The City of Lackawanna is planning to pack up and move its entire City Hall within the next couple of years to the Knights of Columbus that’s less than a mile away on South Park Avenue.
This move comes after decades of complaints about its current city hall. For years, Lackawanna officials have discussed the move, though it’s never come to fruition.
As for its looks, Szymanski doesn’t mince words. He called the current city hall, which was built in the late 1960’s, the “orange milk crate on stilts” and said it was a bad building from the start.
Among the factors that made the Knights of Columbus appealing for the city was its proximity to an NFTA bus stop, its proximity to businesses, and property space for future buildings like a youth center or community center.
“We’re going to wait,” Szymanski said. “We’re going to come up with the best scenario we think is best for our city, our taxpayers, and the need of our administration. We looked at other buildings for years but this one seems to be the best fit for the city.”
The purchasing of the area, demolition of old city hall, and other factors will cost taxpayers in Lackawanna anywhere from $4-5 million.