Dover buying bank building to house city offices
DOVER (WJER) (July 2, 2024) – Officials are planning to move city hall one block north.
Mayor Shane Gunnoe Monday announced the city is finalizing the purchase of the First Federal Bank building at 321 North Wooster Avenue with the intention of moving several city offices there.
He says the move will allow the city’s safety forces to expand throughout the current city hall and other city offices on East Third Street. Gunnoe says cramped quarters for the fire and police departments have been an issue for years.
“We know our fire department needs more space. We know some of our officers that operate on the second floor of the current city hall are operating in a non-handicap accessible space. We know we have limitations as it is to both workspace for investigations and storage, so we think presents us with a real opportunity to address those long term.”
Gunnoe says the city will pay First Federal $1 million for the property, which includes the bank building, a second building that currently houses a title company, and about a city block of land. He says constructing a similarly-sized building would cost $3 million to $4 million.
Offices moving there will include the mayor, the auditor, service, utility billing, building and zoning, and City Council chambers.
The existing Council Chambers will become a training center for safety forces, according to Gunnoe.
The deal dictates First Federal will retain the employees that work at the North Wooster Avenue location, Gunnoe said. They would relocate to other banks branches within the city of Dover.
Gunnoe says he expects Council’s approval soon. He anticipates moving in the middle of next year.