City Hall move still possible

Andrew Glazer

COSTA MESA -- City Council members have agreed to spend up to $800,000

for seismic upgrades at City Hall, but only if they decide not to move to

a spot they’ve been eyeing for months.

“By nature, it’s going to be nasty, noisy and miserable during

construction,” said City Manager Allan Roeder. “If we’re serious enough

about relocating, I’d prefer not to have to go through that.”

The council for months has discussed moving City Hall and the Police

Department to an elegant stucco and clay-shingled building on Newport

Boulevard and 19th Street. The property has been vacant since its last

tenant, Pacific Savings Bank, folded in 1991.

Appraisers recently assessed the value of both the 19th Street building

and City Hall, which the city would hope to sell to neighboring Vanguard

University.

Vanguard officials, who could not be reached for comment, previously said

they were interested in expanding into City Hall for classrooms, parking

and a music facility.

City officials would not reveal how much the buildings are worth. But Los

Angeles businessman Nickolas Shammas, owner of the empty building, has

repeatedly said appraisers have undervalued his property.

“The city made a condition that it will only take the property based on

an appraisal,” said Shammas, who said he has lost $100,000 a month since

the building became vacant. “But until we get an appraisal I think is

reasonable, we’re not going to talk.”

Roeder said the City Council would discuss whether to continue pursuing a

possible move at a closed-door meeting May 15.

Mayor Gary Monahan supports moving the city’s digs. He said a 19th Street

location, on the West Side, would show the city’s commitment to a

neighborhood residents say was ignored by previous city leaders.

“What better way is there to show the West Side is important than having

City Hall right there?” he said Friday.

However, City Councilman Joe Erickson said moving City Hall would be

costly and unnecessary.

“We don’t spend money on perceptional purposes,” said Erickson, who said

the city would end up spending “many millions of dollars” in the move,

even after selling its current buildings to Vanguard.

“This is tax money that could be spent on parks, roads, police,

firefighting. It shouldn’t be spent on buildings.”