A temporary city hall? Bradenton has new idea as move deadline approaches
Nearly two years after agreeing to sell City Hall in favor of a multimillion-dollar development, Bradenton officials have an idea of where to move city operations temporarily.
At the city council’s workshop meeting on Wednesday, City Administrator Rob Perry said the City of Bradenton may decide to lease space at Manatee County Government’s building in downtown Bradenton. The deal would give the city about one-and-a-half floors to use at the building on Manatee Avenue West.
Perry did not share details about how much the city would pay to use the space, but he called the rates “very, very economically favorable.”
The city needs to move from the current city hall at 101 Old Main Street, Bradenton, in early 2027 as L&L Development starts construction on The Vias project. In 2024, the city agreed to sell the city hall property for $14.1 million, and the city is working on closing that sale.
Bradenton leaders have been seeking a permanent city hall replacement for nearly four years, with meetings about finding a new home for the government headquarters dating back to September 2022.
Availability in the Manatee County Administration Building comes as county officials began transferring staff to a new office building in Lakewood Ranch.
While the city explores the temporary move, officials are still trying to find a permanent space. City leaders have contemplated several options over the years, but there is no concrete choice.
Mayor Gene Brown said the city is working with the county on a “reasonable price” for leasing the space. Staff at both government agencies have looked at scheduling for meetings and Brown said it could work “perfectly together.”
“It’s a win-win right now to get the project started on the city hall site,” Brown told the Bradenton Herald.
The Bradenton Police Department will also move from its current location adjacent to city hall before construction starts on The Vias. Perry said the new $35 million headquarters will likely be complete in December.
County building provides leasing opportunity
According to Perry, city officials are working with county staff on a specific plan, which would need to be approved by the Manatee County Board of County Commissioners. He said a formal recommendation would come before the city council “very soon.”
One of the positives of leasing the county space, according to Perry, is the layout of the space, and that furniture, fixtures and equipment would be included.
“We’ve looked at it from the perspective of the ease of occupancy to start with, and the transitional convenience of being able to do that in a short period of time, do it efficiently,” Perry said.
The council did not have a long discussion, but City Councilwoman Jayne Kocher said she supported the idea.
“I’m very happy to hear about the use of the county building. It’s kind of refreshing to think that we’ve got some efficiency going on here, and if it goes well, I don’t know that I am opposed to it being a permanent thing,” Kocher said.
City officials still searching for permanent space
In addressing the need for a permanent space, Brown said the main concern is cost.
“Cost is an unbelievable factor in things, and we’re hoping to get back to some of the more reasonable cost and opportunity,” Brown told the council.
However, Brown told the Bradenton Herald that leasing a space like the county building gives the city a couple of years to see if the economy eases and the city can pursue a permanent building.
At the city council workshop, Perry also presented a plan to design a rectangular, three-story building that would be about 45,000 square feet. The idea is to have the design adapt to fit several different locations that the city is considering.
“We basically are looking at trying to develop a plan, a building plan, for a rectangular shape...it would be able to be placed on different types of property,” Perry said.
City Councilwoman Lisa Gonzalez Moore cautioned city officials to make sure the building would still look professional.
“I obviously want to be economical for sure, but I also feel like I have to say that I don’t want it to look bad,” Moore said.
