Corbett says most of his council colleagues want city government in the city's existing buildings downtown

CEDAR RAPIDS - Mayor Ron Corbett is all but assuring that city government is coming back downtown, likely to both the Veterans Memorial Building on May's Island and the old federal courthouse nearby.

“I don't think it's very hazy at this point,” Corbett told members of the The Gazette editorial board at City Hall on Wednesday morning. “There is a growing consensus among council members that we use existing buildings.”

He said a council majority is behind building a new library – the council approved the site last week – and a new Central Fire Station. But a new city hall isn't needed, he said.

The council will vote March 16 on building a new city hall or returning to existing buildings, he said.

At its meeting this evening, the council is slated to approve the hiring of Neumann Brothers Inc. of Des Moines to work as the construction manager to oversee the renovation of the flood-damaged Veterans Memorial Building.

Corbett said the council will need to decide how much it wants to put back in the Veterans Memorial Building and how much space that the Veterans Memorial Commission might want in the building. The commission earlier picked Neumann Brothers Inc. to recommend for the construction management role.

Corbett called the old federal courthouse – which the city is getting in a trade for land it provided for the new federal courthouse – a “solid building” that could use some new carpet in some places and a little paint.

He noted that some council members even like the idea of using the large federal courtroom on the building's top floor as a council chambers.