Movement on two large-scale, and long delayed, downtown Lexington projects — the seemingly snake-bit CentrePointe and a new city hall — is eliciting a mix of optimism and guarded caution, especially where the two plans might overlap.
A panel of city officials recently selected a national consulting group to help evaluate options for moving city officials and services from the deteriorating downtown Government Center. Jones Lang LaSalle, which has offices in Cincinnati, will be paid up to $198,500 to produce a three-month study on where city hall should be situated. The contract still needs the approval of the full Lexington Fayette Urban County Council.
“We’ve been working on this since 2007. It’s our third attempt to try and find a new government center location,” said councilmember-at-large Kevin Stinnett. “Maintenance costs in our current building are overwhelming. It makes financial sense to get a building where our space planning is maximized.”
Stinnett said he prefers a downtown location, depending on cost.
“If we own property where it makes the most sense, I’d prefer that. If it makes more financial sense to go to another location we don’t own, I’ll look at it,” he said.
The new developers of the stagnant CentrePointe project have offered to include a new city hall as part of their construction plan. The city will consider that option and others after the consultant study is concluded. However, some council members first want to meet with CentrePointe developer Atit Jariwala, CEO of Bridgeton Holdings, and prime investor Matt Collins of Lexington before approving the consulting contract with Jones Lang LaSalle.
“I assume they have already met with the administration about some of their ideas,” said councilmember-at-large Richard Moloney. “The council makes the final vote, so we would like to hear their recommendations and ideas before we spend the $200,000.”
Moloney also wants to hear more details about how the developers might partner with the city on building a new city hall. Questions have been raised about whether the city would own or lease city hall space in a reconfigured CentrePointe property.
“Those are the kinds of questions I and the council want to ask,” said Moloney. “There are many other unanswered questions. If it’s going to be a lease process, I have got concerns about that. Some of the [leasing] figures I’ve heard are outrageous,” he stated.
Both Moloney and Mayor Jim Gray’s chief-of-staff Jamie Emmons say they have tried to set up a meeting with Bridgeton Holdings about the CentrePointe site but have not been able to arrange one. [Jariwala has told Business Lexington recently that his firm is still developing its plan for the site and is not yet ready to reveal full details.]
“There’s no agreement,” said Emmons. “We’ve hired consultants to explore all the options, not just one. We’re at the beginning of the process, and it will take place over the next 90 days, after the contract is approved by council.”
The council recently heard a fi rst reading of a resolution authorizing the contract with Jones Lang LaSalle consultants. A second reading is expected soon.