FALLS CITY – Mayor Mark Harkendorff says Falls City is still in the conceptual phase, but the city council agreed Tuesday to send the Nebraska Department of Economic Development a letter of intent for a grant application to help rehabilitate Prichard Auditorium and the old city hall building nearby.

Alley Poyner is expected to present findings of a feasibility study at the council’s Jan. 16 meeting.

 

Nussbaum: “We’re right now essentially is concept components, so they’ve got full concept design kind of pulled together of potential uses of the buildings – the old city hall and Prichard.

The mayor and City Administrator Anthony Nussbaum fielded questions about the potential cost of $13 million compared to a possible $500,000 state grant for the creative district.

Fouraker: “Our infrastructure, our water lines, everything else we got in line here. What comes first?

Mayor Harkendorff said he expects the total costs could be trimmed to below $10 million.

The city would refurbish Prichard Auditorium with a modern kitchen, gathering spaces and bathrooms. The existing basketball and volleyball court would remain.

The old city hall, which was the original National Guard armory, now hosts the fire department, but most of the building is vacant. The feasibility study originated for finding a use for the old armory, but soon migrated to include the  historic auditorium.

Nussbaum said the costs estimates were $10 million for Prichard Auditorium and $3 million for old city hall.

Fouraker: “I actually got reached out to today about the fitness centers in town. Would there be a fitness center inside these things too? Because other people have invested in town are kind of worried about that.”

Nussbaum said architects got feedback from existing fitness operators and would present concepts for the Falls City Recreation Wellness Center  at the Jan. 16 meeting.