Riverside set to complete City Hall project next month


Unmatched coverage: We are committed to covering city government in the city of Riverside.

More coverage: For complete local government coverage in the region, visit MyDaytonDailyNews.com.

The city of Riverside is nearing the finish line in relocating City Hall from Harshman Road to a city-owned Wright Point office building.

Riverside officials are scheduled to move into the new location Nov. 13-14, and be open for business Monday, Nov. 16, according to City Manager Bryan Chodkowski.

The first City Council meeting in the new administration building could be Nov. 19, but if not, the first meeting in December will take place there, Chodkowski said. An open house for the public will likely be scheduled after the first of the year, he said.

A total of 16 employees will work out of the new City Hall.

“It’s a facility that’s truly designed for the administrative function and puts forth the best professional appearance for the city,” Chodkowski said. “At the end of the day, we’re going to have a more effective and efficient organization as a result of this change.”

Work that has been completed or is scheduled to be done includes painting, installing carpet and furnishings, and constructing the council dais. About 10,000 square feet on the first floor of 5200 Springfield St. is being renovated to accommodate council chambers and administrative offices.

The relocation will double the city's work space and lead to improved facilities for the police, fire and service departments. The cost of the three-phase project is approximately $825,000.

The city plans to pay for the project using the Wright Point fund, which generates revenue from tenant leases. Riverside purchased the two Wright Point office buildings in June 2013 for $2.6 million.

“It’s going to be a very positive thing for the city to have a new place to call home,” Councilman Mike Denning said. “The timing’s right. We own the building, so there’s no reason for us not to become a resident of our complex.”

Administrative offices, storage space for records, a large conference room, multiple meeting areas, a break room and a lobby will be included in the new offices at 5200 Springfield St. Council chambers will be in the center of the suite.

The three phases are: relocating City Hall to 5200 Springfield; renovating current City Hall at 1791 Harshman; and renovating the service department building at 1791 Harshman.

The current City Hall building at 1791 Harshman is 10,427 square feet, which includes the police and fire stations. The administrative area and council chambers take up about 4,150 square feet.

“The look and feel and function compared to what they have currently is going to be night and day,” said Brian Weaver, a senior associate with ALT Architecture, which did the design work for the project.

The current City Hall building will be renovated and expanded for the police, fire and service departments. The entire project will be completed in 2016.

Riverside Mayor Bill Flaute — who took a tour of the new City Hall last week — has been in favor of the project because it means improved work space for the fire and police departments.

“I’m pleased that our employees now have better working conditions than what they had before,” Flaute said. “It’s more of a professional setting, and the police and fire will have a little more room to do their work well. I’m excited and ready to make the move.”

The building at 5100 Springfield St. is five floors and the 5200 building is three floors. The combined square footage is approximately 168,000.

New HVAC systems were installed at the Wright Point office buildings earlier this year, at a cost of just under $800,000.

About the Author