FAQs
What is the City Hall Blue Ribbon Committee?
The CHRBC is made up of 13 community members that represent neighborhood district associations, community groups, and city boards and committees. The role of the CHBRC is to help engage the community and draft development goals for the future of the city hall site. To do this, the committee is learning about historic preservation, site history, operation and maintenance costs, real estate market conditions, and assisting with the project community engagement.
Learn more here: https://www.milwaukieoregon.gov/bc/chbrc
How will the city pick a new use for city hall?
The City Hall Blue Ribbon Committee will recommend project goals for City Hall to the Milwaukie City Council. City Council will approve project goals, host a public hearing, and decide to declare the property surplus. The finalized goals will be included in a request for proposals (RFP) to purchase or lease the city hall property. Interested users will respond to the RFP with their ideas and proposals to lease or purchase the site. The goals will guide the selection of a proposal. Two members of the City Hall Blue Ribbon Committee will sit on the selection committee with City staff and leadership. It is estimated that in 2023 city staff will move into the Advantis Credit Union building and a new user will take occupancy of city hall.
Is the building of historical significance or on a historical registry? Will the outside façade need to be preserved, or can the building be torn down?
Milwaukie City Hall is listed as “significant” on the city’s historic properties list and the property is part of Historic Preservation Overlay Zone. Significant is the highest level of historic designation in the Milwaukie Municipal Code (MMC). For properties in the Historic Preservation Overlay Zone any exterior alternations are subject to review by the city. Minor alterations and alterations that do not change the existing building features can be approved by city planning department staff. Any other alternations must be approved by the city’s Planning Commission. Demolition of the building would also need to be approved by the Planning Commission. The Historic Preservation Overlay Zone does not limit interior renovations of the building.
In addition, when a property like City Hall leaves public ownership it becomes subject to review by the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO). SHPO will work with the city and the new owner to mitigate any adverse effects of the building leaving public ownership. The city recently went through the SHPO mitigation process for the Ledding Library project. The city mitigated the adverse effects of demolishing the original library building by documenting the original buildings and creating public art displays in the new building that honors the history of the original library.
Has interest been expressed by a private company for the land and/or building?
There have been some inquiries from private entities about future uses of the City Hall building and grounds. Any private party that is interested in purchasing or leasing the building will need to respond to the request for proposals (RFP) released by the city.
What is the for-sale price for the City Hall building and property?
Currently there is no set sale price for City Hall. An appraisal will be completed by a third-party to determine a sale price during a sale process.
A lot of the ideas involve community use. How much would the community uses cost? Would you consider giving the building to the Parks district for community use?
The city does not have funds budgeted for ongoing financial support and maintenance of the City Hall building. A new user or owner will need to demonstrate that they have the financial capacity for ongoing support of the building and property.
Would the building require extensive retrofitting to conform to current standards? What is the estimate of what that would cost?
Any renovation of City Hall would have to meet city and state building code standards. At this time, because there is no specific project proposed, there are no estimates of construction costs for renovations.
More information about historic preservation and character-defining features