The Knoxville City Council approved a resolution supporting a new public safety/city hall facility at their meeting Monday night. 

The resolution authorized staff to proceed with a Federal Community Project funding grant application through the offices of Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks. The resolution also authorizes Mayor Brian Hatch to submit a letter in support of the project to the 1st Congressional District offices. The goal is to have the building located at the site of the former Knoxville Middle School as part of a land swap with the city and school district. According to a GIS study, the location of the old middle school is an ideal location for the new public safety building. Knoxville City Manager Heather Ussery says the city has been working closely with Wendel, the architectural firm in charge of the design for the project.

“Staff is still working with Wendel, the architect, on floor plans. We are talking through materials currently on what the structure will actually be built out of. We are looking at the cost estimates for each one of those. We are expecting to have a presentation in April to the city council to present the updated floor plan as well as possibly some 3-D renderings to see what they would look like.”

The initial estimate of the project was given by Wendel at just over $16 million.