Maitland City Hall celebrates grand opening

“This is a great day for Maitland,” Mayor Howard Schieferdecker declared Aug. 30 just before he ceremoniously snipped the red grand-opening ribbon hung in front of the wrought-iron gate leading to the main entrance to the city’s new City Hall.

And as confetti canons sent red, white and blue streamers over the crowd of those gathered under the large shade trees surrounding City Hall, his words were marked as the slogan of the day. The “great day” phrase slipped from the mouths of nearly every speaker at the grand opening celebration held indoors and outside of the new facility.

Former and present City Council members, city staffers and residents came out for the event, marking the completion of a project more than seven years in the making.

“It’s great to see,” former Mayor Doug Kinson said of seeing the plans he helped put together finally materialize.

Assistant City Manager Brian Jones said the $5.3 million budgeted City Hall project came in about $200,000 under budget. The new City Hall was the final piece of the larger $9.1 million budgeted master plan for the completion of Maitland’s new city hall, and police and fire stations. Much of the project was funded by a resident-approved bond issue for $8.5 million seven years ago.

Since the City Hall portion of the three-story, 24,000-square-foot LEED-qualified building opened for business in mid-July, city staffers have had a chance to move in and make the hall their home. Elevator timing has been tweaked, microphone sound levels in the Chamber have evened out, and files have been tucked away in designated storage areas.

“I think it’s all really worked out well,” Jones said as he walks the halls surrounding his third-floor office, which he’ll hold for another five weeks before retiring from his assistant city manager position. Management Services Director Sharon Anselmo will take over his position.

Maitland City Hall is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1776 Independence Lane.

He said the new building has made the city more efficient by housing all departments under one roof. Even details such as coffee areas on each level, clear glass-window doors and the sweeping views out office windows are having a surprising effect.

“I like to think we planned having all those in charge of development having offices facing the old Winn-Dixie roof,” he says, pointing out City Manager Jim Williams’ office window to the brown, dilapidated-looking roof below.

Some, he says, may say it’s ugly, but Jones says staffers should view it as inspirational — a forced glance at what the city is looking to remedy as it works to revitalize the downtown area.

Inside, the sweet smell of potpourri-filled conference rooms and lingering scents of coffee filtered through the hallways as the main gates and office doors of City Hall were propped open for residents to explore during the grand opening on the afternoon of Aug. 30.

“This is a great day for our city and our citizens,” Schieferdecker said, concluding his presentation to the crowd. “Welcome to our new City Hall!”