‘Room to grow.’ Palmetto leaders seek new home for city hall building
Palmetto leaders are considering moving city hall, addressing the city’s projected growth and the need for more full-time employees.
The decision comes as city officials are looking to the future of Palmetto, and expect that the city’s operational needs will soon outgrow its office space. Looking 15 years ahead, projected staff increases — to accommodate more city residents — will require more space.
Several new developments, like a six-story mixed-use project from Gray Property Group and another development by Mosaic Development, will add hundreds of new apartments and residents to Palmetto.
Officials are exploring two options — one that would be new construction near the city’s police department, or renovating a five-story building adjacent to the existing city hall. The city is under contract for both properties and will present both options to the city commission in the coming weeks.
Palmetto city commissioners are in the early stages of purchasing 5 acres from CSX, the company that operates local railroads, for $1.4 million. The property, which sits between Eighth Avenue and 10th Avenue West, would allow the city to build a new, larger city hall building.
The city is also eyeing the office building at 600 Eighth Ave. W., next to city hall. City Clerk Jim Freeman told the Bradenton Herald that both options will be presented to the city commission in coming weeks.
New city hall needed for future growth, officials say
Last year, the commission hired local architecture firm Fawley Bryant to conduct a feasibility study on the city’s current facility space and explore options. The city hall building was built in the 1950s, according to Freeman.
“The existing city hall building is approaching, if not already at, the end of its useful life,” Freeman told the Bradenton Herald. “We’re essentially at maximum capacity.”
Commissioner Sunshine Joiner said the city’s current building is “busting at the seams,” and the city needs to find an alternative.
“As the commission, we had asked for a couple of options. Number one, what we’re hoping for is space and room to grow,” Joiner said.
The city could renovate its city hall, but with the site being just over 1 acre, Freeman said it would require adding a second story to the building.
With the commission’s approval at the April 20 meeting, the city entered a contract with CSX to consider purchasing the site, but it doesn’t guarantee that’s the final decision.
“Keep in mind, if you choose to move forward, this is not the be-all end-all,” Freeman told commissioners at the April 20 meeting. “This just basically gives us site control, it gives us the opportunity to dig a little deeper into the CSX site.”
One of the positives that city officials see is the proximity to the city’s police station.
“It would also create a campus-style environment,” Freeman said. “This would create more of a one-stop shop where (residents) could do all of their business in one location.”
The site would give the city about 3.2 acres of vacant land to build a new city hall, with nearly 2 acres that could add to the city’s trail system.
A new city hall at that location could be up to 15,000 square feet, more than doubling the city’s current capacity at 6,500 square feet. City officials estimate the city will need 46 full-time employees working at city hall in 15 years, which is an increase from the 30 employees that use the space now.
“And then, also, (it would) give us the space that we would need for future growth,” Freeman told commissioners. “We don’t expect huge growth, I don’t think, but there is going to be some growth when we do urban infill and then you have some properties to the north that, as we expand, the demand for personnel will increase.”
Joiner said she prefers the new-build option, especially with the potential to create a one-stop facility for residents.
“I’m excited about the idea of making things really convenient for our residents,” Joiner said about the new build. “Something that makes it the most convenient for our people would be a really lovely addition.”
Freeman also said the city is considering the five-story building next to city hall, the Sunmed Building. According to the Manatee County Property Appraiser, the market value of the property was about $3.3 million in 2025.
With two options on the table, Freeman said he hopes to bring the possibilities back to the commission with more information in the coming weeks.
