Mayor wants to create a new City Hall

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - Mayor Tom Henry announced Tuesday morning plans to create a new City Hall in the former Renaissance Square building in downtown Fort Wayne. The plans include moving police headquarters from its current Creighton Street location.

According to Mayor Henry, the location will allow for the consolidation of City of Fort Wayne operations in the 220,000 square foot building.  The new location would house all departments located in the City-County Building except 911 communications. 

"With a new city hall, we are charting a new course for Fort Wayne," said Mayor Henry.  "In these difficult economic times, I am doubly committed to getting the most out of every taxpayer dollar and ensuring the delivery of high-quality, cost-effective services to every citizen.  This is a decision that will help us do both, now and long into the future.  Consolidating operations will save money and increase efficiencies.  It will also foster new opportunities for cooperation with our county partner, something I am determined to pursue on behalf of all taxpayers."

Henry said the Fort Wayne Police Department has outgrown its current location at 1320 East Creighton.  The building only has 38,000 square feet of space, but it's estimated the department needs 80,000 square feet to function properly.
 
The lease on the police department's building expires on September 30, 2009.  The lease for space in the City County Building expires on December 31, 2010.

Henry addressed concerns about the move ending cooperative efforts with Allen County government. 

"This is a community based decision that will save money and ensure better service delivery for all citizens.  There is a myth that all city and county offices are located in the City-County Building today.  In fact, governmental building sprawl is the reality.  If the county takes advantage of our decision, I think we'll see a real consolidation of both city and county services to the greater convenience of the public and cost savings for taxpayers.  Let me remind everyone, all city residents are also county taxpayers.  This is a decision that creates more opportunities for collaboration.  It is a platform on which to build for the future," said Henry.

Henry said the move would result in a cost savings of $500,000 a year.  The City currently pays about $2 million in annual rent and maintenance for the police department, Neighborhood Code offices and the space in the City-County Building.

it will cost $7.3 million to purchase the former Renaissance Square building and another $7.2 million to renovate and furnish it.  The total $14.5 million price tag would be paid for with County Economic Development Income Tax dollars.

The McMillen Foundation owns the current police department headquarters building and it is exploring options for the site.

Henry's plan needs approval from the Fort Wayne City Council.  If council gives the go-ahead, the new city hall would be fully operational by the end of 2010.

NewsChannel 15 spoke with council member Tom Smith who questioned why the move is necessary.  Smith said there are other buildings that could be used to house the police department.