The former City Hall at 245 West Fourth Street in Williamsport. KAREN VIBERT-KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

As the former Williamsport City Hall remains condemned for almost three years now, City Council has initiated a plan to find suitable engineering and architectural firms to conduct a study on the best place to house city government.

A request for proposals (RFP) has been sent out and is expected to be returned by April 19, according to Council Vice President Eric Beitter, chairman of the economic revitalization committee, which discussed the plan and documents prepared by Council President Adam Yoder.

‘A plan, because there was no plan’

“Our main concern as a council is we do our best to make sure we are making a good financial decision and do what is best for the constituents,” Beiter said.

“It may be that the building is sold or it may be that we are staying and doing rehab or looking elsewhere,” he said. “Our point is, that was not done.”

With every plan, there is a cost, and the funding for the study was included in this year’s budget, Beiter said.

“We have had a couple of ERC meetings and heard more in depth discussion from the community,” Beiter said. He confirmed no one has brought up any specific plans to the committee.

Meanwhile, John Basalgya, owner of JBAS Realty, Jessup, who put the $555,500 offer to buy city hall before council, said he would make the building accessible.

He would turn two floors into apartments and the first floor space into a location for a coffee shop and small cafe, with deference to the rest of the space for historic preservation and, perhaps, a common gathering area.

His company is renovating a former YMCA Children’s Discovery Workshop building a block away into modern apartments. Beiter said he appreciated the developer’s patience.

Basalgya also has told the Sun-Gazette and members of council that the historic city hall he wants to buy continues to sustain damage from being exposed to the elements.

Just the past month has seen a wide range of temperatures, not to mention plenty of rainfall. City sources confirmed an environmental company had to respond after yet another less extensive leak was discovered.

His plan would transform the downtown, bring light and life to what otherwise is a stagnant and dead building, Basalgya said.

“We want to make it into something that the city can be proud of,” he said.