Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Spending for City Hall Design Work OKd : Government: Palmdale's mayor says the proposed $10-million building will set the tone for downtown renewal efforts.

Santa Clarita / Antelope Valley : Spending for City Hall Design Work OKd : Government: Palmdale’s mayor says the proposed $10-million building will set the tone for downtown renewal efforts.

By PHIL SNEIDERMAN

Jan. 15, 1994 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

PALMDALE —

The City Council has voted to spend more than $800,000 on final design work for a new $10-million City Hall that will be financed largely by fees paid by two developers.

Pasadena-based Ewing Architects will receive $684,500 to prepare the final construction plans and assist the builders. Los Angeles-based JCM Group will receive $140,000 to review the architect’s plans and prepare cost estimates.

The architectural firm unveiled a drawing of the proposed government center just before council members approved the expenditures in 4-0 votes at their Wednesday meeting.

“It’s affordable elegance,” Mayor Jim Ledford said of the design.

He also said the new City Hall will set the tone for other renewal efforts in Palmdale’s old downtown area.

At the same time, the new building will allow Palmdale to consolidate city offices that now operate in different locations.

“We’re spread out into half a dozen buildings,” said Doug Dykhouse, the city’s deputy public works director. “It’s inefficient from an energy standpoint, and it’s a burden on the public.”

Palmdale officials plan to construct the new building on city-owned land in the block bounded by Avenue Q-9, 8th Street East, Avenue Q-10 and 9th Street East.

The building’s first phase, which is expected to cost $10 million, will house the city administrator’s office; economic development, public works, planning, engineering and building and safety employees, and a new larger City Council chamber, seating 240.

The design will allow for future expansion to a 125,000-square-foot building.

Palmdale officials said that under development agreements allowing the construction of more than 12,000 new homes, two builders--Kaufman & Broad and Ritter Park Associates--have agreed to pay $6.9 million toward construction of the new City Hall.

Dykhouse said the design work should be finished by the end of 1994. After the council approves final funding plans and a construction bid, building City Hall will take about 18 months, he said.