Manzanita City Hall

30 Years in the Making: Manzanita City Hall

For well over three decades, the coastal city of Manzanita had been discussing the need to upgrade and build a new City Hall, but costs were always prohibitive. The issue came to a head three years ago, when the existing building was evacuated over mold issues.

With staffers working out of three makeshift facilities, it was time to fast track plans for a new administrative hub that would include the city’s administration, council chambers, and police station.

Impressed with our experience in Oregon Coast-specific projects, City stakeholders selected Klosh Group to shepherd the project. But first, we had to help them win the community’s trust.

Transparency, trust, and understanding

After 30 years of false starts and failed attempts, Manzanita residents felt frustrated and skeptical about the project before it even began. Some felt strongly that the existing building should simply be renovated. Others were concerned with the cost—and many wanted to have a voice in the planning process.

Getting public buy-in was our first priority. Through a series of town halls, we listened closely to the wants and needs of residents and provided fair and fact-based responses to their concerns. We also educated residents about general construction costs to give them a better understanding of the total budget. In doing so, we helped city officials gain widespread public support and turned project adversaries into allies.  

Building for resilience

Like any development along Oregon’s coastline, it was important to consider the risk of natural disasters during the design process. Fortunately, the 2.6-acre project site is strategically located outside of both tsunami and landslide zones, a rare find for a coastal property.  

To keep emergency services running in the event of a disaster, the proposed police station will be designed with a higher seismic rating. Not only will this help enhance relief efforts, it will also create a safe place for the community to evacuate during a crisis. 

Advancing the vision

With the design development phase nearly complete, the team is now creating cost estimates and conducting value engineering to ensure that the City Hall project keeps moving forward within the city’s budget. We’ll continue to engage with the community along the way so that they aren’t just informed about their new City Hall—they’re actively involved in shaping it.