Kennewick consultants outline $23–35M cost ranges and temporary relocation options for City Hall project

Consultants presented cost comparisons for renovating the existing City Hall versus constructing a new building on the civic campus. Marcus Valentine summarized assumptions and ranges and noted that the renovation option would require extensive work to reach a comparable product, pushing renovation soft-plus-hard costs into an estimated $23–26 million range; new construction estimates were presented in the $29–35 million range.

Valentine explained drivers of the range: the new building is about 18% larger than the renovatable footprint and renovation would entail significant soft costs (A&E, geotech, permits, FF&E and sales tax). He noted some relocation and data costs that would apply in either scenario: modular temporary offices could cost about $200,000–$250,000 and data/service relocation was estimated in the $150,000–$200,000 range depending on technical needs. "Staff would be relocated in either option," the consultant said, and the presentation included a continuation-of-operations plan that spreads staff across existing facilities or uses short-term modular units.

Council asked for more granular relocation totals and clarification about how growth projections were built into the program; consultants said some relocation costs depend on which temporary options are chosen and that staff will refine those numbers as the design phase proceeds. City Manager Erdman said final reports will be distributed and staff will aim to bring refined options back to council by Aug. 18.