Council seeks help with PD Building

The Douglas City Council decided to seek professional assistance on Monday to help determine the best possible use of the old Phelps Dodge Mercantile Building, located on the corner of 10th Street and G Avenue.

During the special meeting, the council adjourned and took a quick 20-minute tour of the building it now owns.

After more than an hour of discussion and remarks by Greater Douglas Chamber of Commerce board members, it seems like there is little that can be done as far as retail uses of the building are concerned.

The bond issue the city is locked into prevents them from using more than 5 percent of the total square footage as retail space, and they already have that allotted.

Mayor Dr. Michael Gomez asked what could be done to increase retail space, and he was told by City Manager Curtis Shook that very little could be done because the bonds had already been purchased by investors.

“It is very difficult to put the genie back in the bottle,” he said.

Gomez said the PD Building program was inherited  so they are trying to make the best out of what they can do.

Carlos Valenzuela, Chamber president, who has been a vocal opponent of the proposed use of the building, said  “After looking at the contract, it appears our goose is already cooked.”

“I just don’t believe this project works. It needs an anchor that it doesn’t have.  I don’t see a person who is going to make sure it works. It just looks like an extension of the library.

“The use is not in the best interest of the downtown retail community.”

“Having the Phelps Dodge building becoming the lounge of the community doesn’t sit  well,” said Business owner Luwana Diffie.

“I am disappointed. It appears we’re jumping into this because we have money to spend. We need to take a step back  and be creative with what can be done with this facility.”

“While we may have been caught because Cochise County backed out of the proposition for the building, that doesn’t mean we want to get caught with a White Elephant,” said Chamber Board member Kathleen Gomez.

At that point, Councilmember Bob Fernandez discussed the need for looking for professional help with the project, and the council concurred.

Background

This meeting  came about following a presentation by City Engineer Carlos de la Torre  on proposed uses of the building.

 The building was originally purchased by the city as lease space for county offices, in addition to possible classroom space for Cochise College and/or the University of Arizona South.

When the economy made a downturn, the county possibility fell by the wayside.

In January 2008, the city received $3 million in GADA funds for the Government Center and to make improvements to City Hall. The city is required by bond covenant to spend these funds within three years.

The city had also worked with city and business leaders and the University of Arizona to come up with a plan for the center, but the new uses of the building are different than those discussed with the University of Arizona.

The new plan presented by the city staff calls for the building to be turned into a community and youth center featuring conference and meeting rooms, small offices, display space for a museum, a reading library, chamber space and a multipurpose room, along with space for computers, video games and stage.

There had been discussion of using the second floor for additional meeting space and turning it into a ballroom-type facility.

Total project cost is $3,063,196, but De la Torre believes the price could be as low as $2.25 million because recent bids have been coming in 30 to 40 percent lower than anticipated.