Wauwatosa, after years of study and debate over what to do with its aging City Hall and dated library, is close to moving forward with one of four options for upgrading the facility, potentially transforming the southwest corner of North and Wauwatosa avenues.
The four options were unveiled May 12 and presented to the Common Council by representatives from OPN Architects and CG Schmidt, the construction manager hired to work with the city as it reviews potential designs and costs of renovations to the complex and an expansion of the library.
The options range from the basic — necessary maintenance and systems upgrades in the existing building at an estimated cost of $36.1 million — to the ambitious. The most ambitious option would replace the entire building with a modern new complex for City Hall and the Wauwatosa Public Library for $107.2 million.
The estimated impact on taxpayers in the least expensive option would be $100 a year for an average city home, assessed at $418,800. The most expensive option could raise the annual tax bill on that home by $323. And the financing over 20 years would not require a voter referendum, City Finance Director John Ruggini said.
Video of the presentation can be reviewed here. The city also has shared details on its website, including cost estimates. Readers can scroll down to the bottom of this story for brief summaries of the four options.
Subscribe for free to receive the latest Tosa news — or become a paid member and support more reporting like this.
The city now plans to launch an engagement campaign to solicit feedback from the public about the pros and cons of each option. A survey prompt is available at the bottom of this page.
The Common Council is moving forward with a target date of July 28 to vote on one of the options. Project durations range from 16 months to 22 months, with construction potentially starting in spring 2028.