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New City Hall - To Build or Not to Build?

San Diego’s Center City Development Corporation holds a public meeting tonight to present a second analysis of proposals to build a new city hall downtown. KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

New City Hall - To Build or Not to Build?

San Diego’s Center City Development Corporation holds a public meeting tonight to present a second analysis of proposals to build a new city hall downtown.    KPBS reporter Alison St John has more.

A consultant concluded it would be cheaper for the city to redevelop several city blocks and build a new city hall, rather than extend leases on the current offices .  

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But then a member of the consultant’s firm took a job with a company connected to the preferred developer of the project, and that raised the appearance of a conflict of interest.

CCDC decided to get a second opinion. The second consultant, Ernst and Young, will initiate its  research  tonight.

Jeff Graham of CCDC says if the project is to go forward, the new city council will have to make a decision soon.

Graham : It takes a long time to design and building of this complexity so if the city is going to minimize the increase costs when those leases expire it needs to make a decision now.

At least one new city councilmember, Carl DeMaio, says the city should fix its crumbling infrastructure before embarking on a multi million dollar civic center development.

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Alison St John, KPBS news.