Overview
- On Tuesday, the finance committee directed staff to compile purchase or lease options for a new headquarters and to evaluate the current site’s best use and value.
- Committee members said those findings will go to the full council next Wednesday for a vote on repairing the I. M. Pei–designed building or relocating roughly 2,200 employees.
- Three paths are on the table after the status-quo approach was dismissed: major renovations or a move to a downtown office tower that can support city services and security needs.
- City staff pegged repairs at $152 million to $345 million plus bond costs, and estimated about $200 million for a 10‑year lease with no identified plan for roughly $20 million in annual payments.
- Residents and preservation groups urged saving the landmark at a Monday town hall, while previous voter‑approved funds for renovations remain unused and reported developer interest in the site is unconfirmed.