A former 32,000 square foot bank building in downtown Montrose, Colorado may be on its way to serving a new purpose as a City Hall.
Located at 400 E. Main Street, the structure until very recently served as a Wells Fargo outlet. But the banking chain last May announced it was permanently discontinuing operations at the location, several months after the outlet had been closed due to the Covid 19 outbreak.
At the time of that announcement, the bank also let it be known that two other banks it operates in Montrose would remain open.
Now the City of Montrose has purchased the structure, as well as an adjacent parking lot, for $1.5 million with plans to house the offices of the city clerk, city manager, and the financial and planning divisions, among other agencies, in the building.
The one-story structure was built in 1948 and saw renovations in 1962 and 1984.
The current City Hall is located roughly two blocks away at 433 1st Street. According to city officials that building has a number of structural issues, the repairs of which would require City Hall staffers to be find another place to work for up to 2 years.
Plans call for making the building at Main Street building Americans with Disabilities Act compliant, while also taking on roof repairs and what has been described as “minor asbestos abatement.”
It is expected that the renovation work will be completed by early next year.
By Garry Boulard
