Ferndale's city offices are bursting at the seams and city officials are looking into two plans to expand the spaces for the city's hall, police department and district court.
The first choice includes taking over the second floor of the Credit Union ONE building for City Hall to make room for the police department and district court in the current City Hall. Cost of that plan ranges between $5.8 and $6.5 million, plus the purchase price of the second floor.
The second choice calls for the district court to take over the Oakland Livingston Human Services Agency building while renovating the City Hall and police department facility. The price for this option ranges between $6 and $7.3 million.
City officials say both can be done without raising taxes. They also point to a Plante Moran CRESA study that shows Ferndale’s City Hall, District Court and Police Department are undersized by about 11,000 square feet. That shakes out to 26 percent more space neeed.
The City Hall and police department facility was built in 1964. The district court called the council chamber home until it moved across the street to its current facility in the 1970s.
The Ferndale City Council is considering both options.
Source: Robert Bruner, city manager for Ferndale
Writer: Jon Zemke
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