Turning Buda’s recently vacated city hall into a possible co-working space is something the majority of city leaders envision for the future of the facility.
While there are still more decisions to be made, Evan Ture, Buda City Council Place 6, believes the possible new use could help spur interest in the downtown sector.
Buda’s plan for the facility came after a months-long process, which involved the help of a senior-level architectural class at Texas State University, said Micah Grau, Buda assistant city manager.
Ideas for the old Buda city hall facility ranged from a co-working or business incubator space, to a possible small theater for plays and productions.
City officials asked students to consider possible future uses for the facility. Buda officials also utilized several examples from other cities, such as DeSoto, Addison and Dallas, where existing vacant structures were reused.
Grau said the city had envisioned possibly using old city hall as an office for the Buda Chamber, Buda Economic Development Corporation, or as a business incubator.
Ideas for the old Buda city hall facility ranged from a co-working or business incubator space, to a small theater for plays and productions. Some ideas included playscapes or other areas for children.
Buda Mayor Pro-Tem Wiley Hopkins said all of the ideas were “very good,” with the prospect of a small theater as “surprising” for him. Hopkins supported elements in the facility that could cater to children and young people.
“The youth should be thought of in the concepts,” Hopkins said. “They were good drawings and good conceptions. I was impressed.”
Ture said he supported the idea of a co-working space, because it would provide a conducive work environment for businesses of all sizes, as well as for employees who might work remotely.
Ture also believed it would be “unique” to have an area for children, which he has seen in co-working spaces in the Austin area. Buda Mayor George Haehn also liked a shared office space, as well as a theater.
But Ture believed having a theater could cause unintended competition with Buda’s new amphitheater, which is part of Proposition 5 of the 2014 Bond projects.
“There is a opportunity here to add to downtown and have a certain type of co-working space unique to the area,” Ture said.
City leaders remain undecided on whether or not the city should maintain ownership of the structure. The majority of city leaders wanted the city to keep ownership, in order to avoid any uses that don’t conform with the downtown area.
It’s also unknown whether or not the city should enter into a public-private partnership, or self-fund any possible renovations needed for a future use of the facility. Ture said he wouldn’t recommend Buda taking the lead on such a project, believing it could be a “risky endeavor.”
“The city should provide an environment where there’s great developers and private enterprise, but not do all of the improvements in hopes to attract them,” Ture said.
Hopkins, along with Haehn, advocated for the city to find a way to include various veterans groups and to offer them a space for meetings.
The Buda VFW and the Buda EDC submitted requests for proposal with the city in hopes of using old city hall. City officials denied both applications Aug. 7.
Haehn said use of the old library could be a welcome space for the VFW.
“We are mindful of their needs. They need a permanent facility to grow their membership and attendance,” Hopkins said. “I’m encourage that we’re going to find an accommodation for that.”
