By Dan Moffett
For the third time in the last five years, South Palm Beach council members are taking a hard look at what can be done to repair, renovate or replace their aging Town Hall.
The council’s first attempt at dealing with the building’s problems came in 2016 with the hiring of Alexis Knight Architects of West Palm Beach. The firm spent months studying the building, and interviewing administrative staff and residents, leaving the town with a bill for about $50,000.
The architects’ report filed the next year uncovered numerous deficiencies and code violations, and concluded with a proposal that the town replace the hall with a five-story, $6 million multiuse building.
The council quickly and unanimously shot down the idea as far too extravagant.
Mayor Bonnie Fischer says that kind of misdirection won’t happen again.
“We are not going to do a Taj Mahal in South Palm Beach,” Fischer told about 75 residents who attended a workshop devoted to the issue on Feb. 26.
The council’s focus now is on a second report, filed in 2018 by North Palm Beach architect John Bellamy, that recommended “adaptive reuse” of the 54-year-old building. Bellamy cited many of the problems uncovered by Alexis Knight, but concluded that the structure can be upgraded and repaired.
“It would be reasonable to conclude that the building can be renovated and modified in a cost-effective manner to comply with current codes for all existing Town Hall occupancies,” his report said.
That conclusion was consistent with the opinions of nearly all the residents who offered comments during the workshop. It also is consistent with the views of the three candidates who are running for two council seats in the March 17 election.
Vice Mayor Robert Gottlieb and Elvadianne Culbertson, who was on the council in 2017 and 2018, have supported renovation over replacement, and they voted against the $6 million proposal. Ray McMillan, the third challenger in the race, also supports a conservative approach, believing the existing building can be upgraded and repaired.
The Palm Beach County Police Benevolent Association has endorsed Gottlieb and McMillan, fueling rumors among condo groups that Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw was pressuring the town to build a new public safety facility for his deputies on the site — one that might also include fire-rescue services.
Fischer and Town Manager Robert Kellogg categorically deny those rumors. They said talk of plans for a new multimillion-dollar structure are nothing more than election campaign fantasy.
Kellogg did say he told Bradshaw that eventually “something was going to be done to this facility,” though he didn’t know what. “He informed me,” Kellogg said, “that when the time comes, ‘I might be able to help you out.’ ”
Kellogg and Fischer say it’s in the town’s interest to collaborate with PBSO on whatever improvements the council decides to make to the building.
During the council’s regular meeting on Feb. 11, Sheriff’s Maj. Chris Keane told residents that PBSO would not interfere with the town’s decision-making.
“Whatever happens will be the town’s choice,” Keane said. “It’ll be what the town wants.”
Fischer said she wants to enlist Bellamy to make a presentation to the council on his report as soon as possible.
In other business:
Hopes of beginning a $700,000 dune restoration and beach renourishment project with the town of Palm Beach this spring have evaporated.
Palm Beach officials told Kellogg they won’t have a dredge available in time to bring sand to South Palm Beaches in April before turtle-nesting season begins. He said the dredging work is now postponed until November. Fischer said she has received assurances from Palm Beach Mayor Gail Coniglio that the project will ultimately get done.
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