Astoria City Hall
Astoria City Hall serves as the municipal government headquarters for Astoria, Oregon, United States. Originally constructed in 1923 to function as a bank, it has operated as the city’s administrative center since 1939.
History
The three-story structure was erected in 1923 to replace the former Astoria Savings Bank building, which had been destroyed by fire. The bank ceased operations in 1929 after the Wall Street Crash of 1929. Ownership transferred to Clatsop County in 1936, and two years later, the city obtained a Public Works Administration grant to transform the building into city hall. This replaced the earlier municipal building constructed between 1904 and 1905. By March 1939, city and school district offices had relocated here, moving city hall into downtown Astoria to enhance accessibility for residents.
During the 1970s, a mezzanine was inserted creating an intermediate floor. The city council chambers are situated on this second level, while the uppermost floor accommodates most city administrative offices.
In June 1998, the building was designated a contributing property within the Astoria Downtown Historic District, which was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
2011 remodeling
A renovation project valued at $1.2 million commenced in late summer 2011 and concluded by April 2012.[1] Throughout construction, city operations were temporarily housed at the Astoria Yacht Club.[2][3]
The refurbishment restored the main entrance and lobby area, installed fire suppression sprinklers, and modernized safety and lighting infrastructure.[4][2] An ADA-compliant elevator replaced the previous outdated lift,[4] while the council chambers were reconfigured from an L-shaped design into a square layout, increasing seating capacity from approximately 60 to 80 occupants.[1] The chambers were reoriented to face northward toward the Columbia River,[4] incorporating windows salvaged from a former staff lounge located on the east side.[1]
The original bank vaults remain intact but with disabled locking mechanisms; one vault was repurposed as an office and copy room.[4] Historical elements were preserved, including the restoration of a vintage chandelier returned from the Flavel House Museum to its original position in the lobby where it had hung during the building’s banking era until 1949.[1][5]
External links
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