It may sound crazy on first review, but that's one possibility that has been proposed by Philadelphia City Controller Jonathan A. Seidel in his December 1, 2000 report entitled City Hall Revitalization.
This well analyzed and detailed plan looks at the current state of City Hall and presents recommendations "designed to help transform Philadelphia's signature building into a proper seat of government, a tourist magnet, and an improved asset as the City's center.
Erected on the site established by William Penn as the site for future public buildings, actual construction of Philadelphia's City Hall was ongoing from 1871 to 1901 with additional work continuing until 1909. The total cost of construction was $24.5 million. Designed by architect John McArthur and built in the French Second Empire style of architecture, City Hall remains the world's largest masonry load-bearing building. A National Historic Landmark, the building is America's largest and most elaborate City Hall. The statue of William Penn which sits atop City Hall tower is the tallest statue on any building in the world.
For much of its first 100 years, City Hall was allowed to deteriorate in many regards. In recent years, a $125 million capital improvement project to areas of the exterior of the building have been ongoing, however, many interior areas of the building have deteriorated to the degree that they are no longer useable.
The criminal courts as well as many city agencies have long ago moved from the building to more modern facilities throughout the city. Philadelphia Mayor John Street is considering moving his own offices to the nearby Municipal Services Building.
The estimated costs for a complete renovation both exterior and interior range from $303 -$650 million based on estimates of actual work needed as well as an examination of a similar massive renovation of San Francisco's City Hall....................................
