We officially broke ground on
Friday, January 29, 2010 at 10:30 a.m.
The original Town Hall was completed in October of 1954. Ten years later, in 1964, the building was expanded and then in 1982, twenty-eight years ago, the final expansion was completed.
This building has served the community and the people of Indian Shores well for 56 years. Today we face many problems common to a structure this age:
- very poor carbon footprint and inefficient use of energy
- recurring mold problems in the duct system
- rodent and insect invasion issues
- recurring electrical and plumbing problems
- large cooling and heating costs due to inadequate insulation and air leaks
Of most concern to the Town council at this time is that our current building was built to height and strength specifications of a bygone era. Things the Town Council considered:
- We are 6 feet below the FEMA base flood elevation and 10 feet below where any new construction would have to be raised to meet
FEMA and Town standards.
- Any major flood event would devastate the building and any major wind event would blow it apart.
- A Katrina-level storm would result in wave heights ten feet above our current roof level.
- Where and how we would continue as a municipal entity is a question that has weighed on the Council's mind for the last several years.
We are planning our new Municipal Center to be built to storm standards that will survive any major storm event.
- The aesthetical value of replacing this old and dignified lady with the modern Mediterranian beauty we envision is important to our civic pride in this era of Indian Shores beautification.
- The extra 1/3 building space will allow us to expand the over 15 exercise, dance, martial arts and bridge classes we currently offer our citizens each week.
- The reduced carbon footprint will be good for the environment and our utility pocketbook.
And, while each of thease reasons are important in and of themselves, the most important is having a place to come back to in order to put this town back together, clean it up and help us all to safely get back into our homes.
