Loomis is one step closer to new home
Renovations began this week on the new Loomis town hall in a historic building on Taylor Road. According to Brian Fragiao, director of public works/town engineer, Melnikov Construction was awarded the contract for the remodel of the building formerly owned by the South Placer Municipal Utilities District, located at 3671 Taylor Road. Melnikov submitted the lowest bid of $198,500 for the remodel. A town staff report stated the project will be completed within 50 days and the funding is provided through the Community Facilities Account. Longtime Loomis resident Joyce Skellenger is happy town hall is relocating. “I’ve lived here since 1943 when the bank was there,” Skellenger said. “I think it’s wonderful. It (town hall) needs to be closer to the middle of things.” Rick Hirst, of Loomis, said he thinks the move is positive for Taylor Road businesses and said he’d like to see improvements made to other buildings on the street. Traffic concerns were expressed by Bent Waters, also of Loomis. “I’m concerned about traffic congestion. I think it will cause parking problems,” Waters said. Fragiao said his staff “gutted” the building so that new electrical, carpet, cabinets and partitions can be added and entrances and restrooms can be made handicapped accessible. He also said the exterior of the building will be painted and staff wants to return to its historic colors. Research is being conducted to determine what the colors were. “It’s a great building. It’s neat to think it was an old bank,” Fragiao said. Fragiao said town staffers are looking forward to the move, which will make them more centrally located and easier for people to find. The town purchased the 3,063-square-foot, two-story 1915 building in September 2008 for $500,000 cash. Monez Architecture was hired by the town in April 2009, at a cost of approximately $40,000, to prepare remodel plans and specifications and to put the project out to bid. Melnikov Construction, located in Sacramento, is family operated and their specialty is cabinetwork, Fragiao said.
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It's a great old building, but $500,000? And what is the cost for the renovations in addition to this first $40,000? The old-timers and ones who built it must be rolling their eyes and "laughing". A grand idea, indeed....but it's amazing how many municipalities in this country have found a "need" for a new city hall during a major recession.
It will make a nice "City Hall", though...but what about parking? How many reserved spots will be required just for people who work or have regular meetings there? How much space will be found for those who need to do business there? It takes a lot of parking for a public facility like that. Businesses fronting on Taylor need parking more than city employees because they are going to pay a lions share of the taxes in the end. Let's hope this was VERY well-planned.
Right now they are renting, this isn't a new city hall, it's the first one they'll own. What could be better than saving a historic, old building and helping bring vitality to downtown Loomis. Plus, it makes town hall easier to find and at the center of things. How much would it have cost to buy land and build a new town hall? I'm sure a heck of a lot more!
It's needed, and it's the right thing to do on so many levels.
There is another issue that needs to be addressed: Let's also (finally!) put a crosswalk RIGHT at that spot. Loomis could be collecting enough in jaywalking fines to pay for the renovations over and over if they'd only enforce the laws. At any time of the day, within a few minutes you can watch the "dodge car dance" of the jaywalkers.
When town officials move in, the scofflaws will be breaking the law right outside their windows. I hope the town sees every illegal step as hundreds of dollars walking away from the bank.
Either put a crosswalk in the middle of the block or start arresting those pedestrians who insist on creating dangerous conditions. Raise the fines to make it worthwhile--and pay off that building renovation.
One other advantage of a crosswalk would be a slowing of traffic and maybe an incentive for some who are taking a shortcut through town to use another route. But just think of all those lost fines....
Apparently not as "well planned" as originally thought. It has sat vacant for almost 1 year, while we are still paying rent on the other place. And to pay cash for a real estate it would have to be a real steal, especially since interest rates are so low. Probably to bring this into ADA compliance and up to code, I bet we are looking at another $250,000!
Of course WS & MU are so concerned about spending money on a special election, to let the voters have some actual say in their government. This is the kind of hypocrisy we have to end.