Sneak Peek at Downtown Office Building Designs

What should Novato’s look like once it opens in a couple of years? The architectural firm hired to handle the job is sharing some preliminary drawings with public.

Take a look at these designs presented Monday night before the Novato Design Review Commission for a new building at Machin Avenue and Cain Lane, site of a city-owed parking lot. The plan, approved by the Novato City Council in July, is to erect a 22,000-square-foot building for between $12 million and $15 million that would serve as home for about 60 city employees. The full presentation from RMW Architecture and Interiors of San Francisco is attached.

Although the Novato City Council isn’t discussing the designs at its Tuesday night meeting, you’ll have a chance to voice your opinion during when it convenes at City Hall. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Supporters of the downtown offices — including several former city council members — gathered more than 600 signatures of people who wanted the city to consider constructing the new city office in the Old Town area. Since the the council and its location, a from several downtown business owners and others have gathered more than 1,000 signatures on a petition to reconsider the decision.

But last week, a citizens finance committee that advises city staff on how best to use its resources by the council partly because of the September 2013 deadline to vacate .

At approximately 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, city staff will provide an update on the project and discuss amendments to the architectural contract, the approval of the project management contract and milestones for future City Council input on the project. Also, the council is to consider an amendment to the lease at the current leased city offices at 75 Rowland Way.

Also Tuesday, the council will consider an amended agreement on development rights between the city and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

In closed session prior to the regular meeting, city staff will meet with the developers of the property near the junction of highways 101 and 37. The city owns a parcel at the end of Rowland Boulevard that the developer, Urban One, would like to purchase.