Government
Bessemer Opens New City Hall
Bessemer City leaders cut the ribbon on a new City Hall building.
An overcast day gave way to sunshine just moments before officials with the City of Bessemer cut the ceremonial red ribbon on the new Bessemer City Hall on the afternoon of Feb. 12, 2017. Symbolically, the parting of the clouds represents the view city leaders have of Bessemer’s future. Bessemer’s Mayor, its City Council and hundreds of residents celebrated the new City Hall at the corner of 17th Street and Third Avenue North with the ceremonial ribbon-cutting and tour. “This is an example of what we can do when we all work together for the common good,” said Mayor Kenneth E. Gulley. The Bessemer City Hall replaces the old City Hall, which was built in 1938 and still stands at the corner of 18th Street and Third Avenue North. The new $5.5 million, three-story facility houses offices for the Mayor, City Council, Building Inspections, Finance, City Clerk, Community and Economic Development and the city’s Information Technology Department. It also includes a Business Guest Suite and room for future expansion. A new city employee parking lot sits at the corner of Fourth Avenue North and 17th Street behind the new building. It replaces a former gas station site that had closed and fallen into disrepair. Mayor Gulley said the City Hall is representative the city’s commitment to growth and revitalization. “This City Hall will serve as a gateway for industry and businesses desiring to come into to Bessemer and those desiring of sitting down and giving Bessemer another look,” said Mayor Gulley. Said a jubilant District 1 councilman David Vance, “Bessemer is open for business.” Bessemer residents who turned out for the ribbon-cutting said they were impressed with the new facility and view it as a great representation of the change taking place in the Marvel City. “I think the City Hall is representative of the progress this city is making,” said resident Joe Openshaw. “Bessemer has come a long way in the past few years. A lot of great things are happening in the city.” In the past year, the city has opened a new $15 million Recreation Center and park and constructed a new Recycling Center on First Avenue North. “The new Recreation Center we’ve opened and this City Hall are testaments that working together really does work,” said District 5 City Councilman Ron Marshall. Among those who worked on the project: Architect – Exford Architects Project Manager – AG Gaston Construction/SARCOR Contractor – Clement Dean Building Interiors – Jay Howton Interiors and Cox Commercial Interiors.
