SOUTH PORTLAND — The City Council will continue to explore several
possible places for a new City Hall, including vacant office space in
Knightville.

Councilors decided Monday to further study buying part of the building
at 100 Waterman Drive, converting Mahoney Middle School and constructing
a new building in the parking lot behind the current City Hall.

Councilors rejected options to renovate City Hall, renovate and add to
City Hall, convert the former National Guard armory on Broadway, or
build a combined campus for City Hall, public works and buses at what’s
now the trash transfer station on Highland Avenue.

Councilors consider City Hall their No. 2 priority for public
improvement projects, behind a new public works facility that is
projected to cost about $8 million.

City Hall’s problems include structural issues, mold, leaks, cramped
spaces, energy inefficiency and expensive maintenance. Originally a
church property, the building on Cottage Road dates back to 1880.

The city moved into the building in 1931 and put on an addition in 1979.
City departments are also housed in three other buildings.

The council’s discussion Monday didn’t indicate a clear favorite among
the options presented by City Manager James Gailey.

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