Politics & Government
Woodstock Explores City Center Partnership
The city could enter into a partnership with Premier Energy to build a new mixed-used building that would house retail space and government offices.
The city of Woodstock has taken the next step in possibly entering into a public-private partnership to build new office space in its central business district.
The Woodstock City Council on Monday voted to direct City Attorney Eldon Basham to work with his counterpart with Premier Energy to draft a contract that would spell out the process for building the new mixed-used building on Towne Lake Parkway just west of Main Street.
The council unanimously approved the request made by city staff. Council member Chris Casdia was not present.
Woodstock is in talks with Premier Energy, who is looking to expand its corporate headquarters in the downtown area, to enter into the public-private partnership.
If the contract is approved, the company would relocate its offices in the new mixed-use building, which would be constructed in the current location of Building B.
That building, part of the former Woodstock Community Church campus, sits along Towne Lake Parkway and is connected to the Chambers at City Center by lobby space.
Along with Premier Energy's office space, the city would relocate the Downtown Development Authority and Office of Economic Development offices and Woodstock Visitor's Center into the building.
According to bid documents, the building's specifications would include:
- 5,580 to 7,000 gross square feet of retail/restaurant space.
- 15,160 to 17,000 gross square feet of professional office space.
- 2,000 and 2,500 square feet of completed, conditioned shell space on the second floor that would be used for city office space.
- 3,000 to 3,500 square feet of completed, conditioned shell space located on the ground floor to be used for a common lobby for city functions, public restrooms and and visitor center space.
A draft agreement stipulates the city would demolish the current building before construction would begin and will also offer parking for office, restaurant and retail use within 250 feet of the property.
Woodstock would also ensure the first phase of the Towne Lake/Arnold Mill widening project would be compatible with the proposed agreement.
The company, in turn, would have to create 30 jobs and build a minimum of 12,520 net square feet of office space to be used by Premier Energy. It would also build a transitional tie-in building to the Chambers at City Center.
The contract will come back to the council for final approval.
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