What will be done to the old Gainesville City Hall?

BCA Studios Architects developed plans for the project and carried out an environmental study of the building. They found asbestos, which the city is also grappling with, Lackey said.

“We had them analyze exactly which walls need to stay,” said Lackey.

The preliminary plan provides for the building’s ground floor to be opened up to three large rooms to create space for restaurants, new toilets and function rooms. Renderings show walls colored green that can be moved, walls colored red that are load-bearing, and yellow to show places where the city may or may not clear walls.

The city doesn’t plan to change the second floor or the basement much during the process, Lackey said. Next, the city will set up a committee to determine how best to use the space. City council members suggested that members of the Main Street Gainesville Advisory Board and Historic Preservation Committee be candidates for the committee.

“This building has historic significance to the community,” said Lackey. “We want to make sure everyone is good at what we do with them. … We have ideas to open up the space … but we are open to anything the community wants. “

The city hopes to complete the renovations by the end of 2022, and the money for the project is included in this fiscal year budget, Lackey said.

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