Novae Res Urbis
December 3, 2008

Moving City Hall

If you would like to share your thoughts on this proposal, please complete the form at the bottom of this page and it will be emailed to Mayor Barrow.

Study ready in Richmond Hill.
The long-awaited feasibility study recommending the relocation of Richmond Hill’s town offices has been received by council and staff will be reporting back on how to engage residents before making the next move.

The report, Relocation of the Town of Richmond Hill Municipal Office Feasibility Study, authored by consultants SC&P Architects Inc., Cushman & Wakefield Lepage, CM2R, R.E. Millward Associates and BA Consulting Group Ltd. came before council at its Monday meeting.

“It is recommended that the Town of Richmond Hill proceed with the initiative to relocate the town hall offices to the site at Yonge and Major Mackenzie,” the report states. “The potential long-term benefits to the citizens, the business community, and the development of a downtown core are significant.”

The estimated project cost in 2008 dollars is between $80 million and $106 million, but if the project is approved and built with the goal of 2013 occupancy, the construction budget could be inflated to more than $130 million. Currently, the town offices are located on Beaver Creek Road in a town-owned building at Highways 7 and 404. The 3.4-acre site has 445-parking spaces for town use, it has been home to the town offices since 1991 and can accommodate forecasted staff growth to 2028. Staff estimated that it will cost about $29 million in 2008 dollars to repair and maintain the existing town hall building over the next 20 years.

The Yonge Street and Major Mackenzie Drive site is closer to the heritage area of the town, near a newly-renovated police station, fire hall and central library and down the street from the soon-to-open performing arts centre.

“As a result of its location, the existing town hall does not have high visibility to the local community and lacks significant civic character and presence. In addition, it lacks adequate space for a properly-sized council chamber, meeting rooms and other civic functions including major public gatherings and a significant outdoor civic space,” the report also states.

While a new town hall will provide space for the growing organization with better transit access, it will not be as close to the business centre as the existing town hall, nor the hotels and convention/meeting facilities near the highway intersection.

Mayor Dave Barrow’s campaign leading up to the 2006 municipal election included the move of the town hall offices closer to the centre of town. In July 2007, council asked for a business case for the relocation and in January of this year, council approved a budget to retain consultants to complete the feasibility study and added the project in the town’s 10-year capital forecast. (See NRU-GTA edition October 31, 2007.)

Staff has now been directed to report back on ways to engage residents in the conversation before council makes a final decision.

For more information about the study visit: www.richmondhill.ca/townhallrelocation