Want to do business in the new Snoqualmie City Hall? Your chance is closer than ever.

Snoqualmie City Council is expected to make a decision sometime following its Monday, Sept. 28, meeting on selling or leasing the old city hall, planning office and the former downtown library.

The planning office, a century-old former bank, has been eyed as a possible retail shop or eatery, while city hall has gotten a few bites from prospective commercial or office tenants.

City Administrator Bob Larson is recommending the city lease out the three buildings in the near future. The city is currently awaiting a new downtown floodway designation from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). The old city hall and planning buildings are expected to be classed as out of the floodway, allowing for more development on those sites.

Larson also recommends the city hold the sales until the economy improves and property values rise.

A number of steps must be taken, including public hearings, before the city can sell the buildings.

The former planning department has been vacant since the January flood. Built in the late 1800s or early 1900s, the one-time bank has drawn interest for a variety of uses, including retail and dining.

The existing city hall was the former site of Sno Falls Credit Union and contains a vault. It has housed city offices for more than 10 years. That building could do duty as office or commercial space.

The former library, vacated by King County Library System in 2007, may remain in city hands as a venue for community groups. Used earlier this year by the Snoqualmie Valley School District as a curriculum annex, the building is now vacant.

The city has budgeted the sale of the appraised value of these buildings as part of the eventual pay-off of the new $6 million city hall.

“We don’t want to have them vacant, that’s for sure,” Larson said.

New hall

Move-in to the new city hall at River Street and Maple Avenue is now slated for Monday, Nov. 2.

Finishing work is still under way. The city expects to take possession of the new building on Oct. 20. New furniture, phones and computer networks will need to be put in place before staff can take their places.

The new city hall will not be home to the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce. While a chamber site had been discussed, Larson said the chamber now plans to remain in their Falls Avenue location.