Key Points: 

Ephrata City Council approved the purchase of the old Rite Aid building for $2.3 million.  

The city has hired Design West Architects to do a feasibility study of the space. 

The building will either become a new city hall, police station or a combination of both. 

The purchase is funded by money the city has saved for the past decade with the knowledge that expansion was necessary in the future.  

EPHRATA — In a move to enhance municipal services and meet the growing needs of the community, the Ephrata City Council approved a motion to purchase the former Rite Aid building located at 250 Basin St.  

“We are really excited to see what this new space will do for the city,” Ephrata Mayor Bruce Reim said.  

The council intends to transform the space into either a new City Hall, a new police station, or a combination of both, while retaining ownership of the current facilities. 

The decision, made during a regular council meeting July 2, comes on the heels of discussions regarding the inadequacies of the existing City Hall and police station, which have served combined functions for decades, City Administrator Ray Towry said. The council unanimously passed both the feasibility study and the purchase of the building.  

Towry highlighted the pressing necessity for upgraded facilities during an interview, emphasizing the current challenges faced by the police department, which occupies cramped quarters that lack essential amenities. 

"We've recognized that our police department's conditions are subpar," Towry said. "They have a locker room that they can't use because of space issues, and their office is located in what was originally a garage. We are growing in population and calls for service, but our facilities are not keeping pace." 

The Rite Aid building, which boasts approximately 16,000 square feet, was purchased for $2.3 million after negotiations that brought the price down from its original listing of $2.5 million.  

“As soon as Rite Aid closed its doors, we could see the building starting to degrade,” Towry said. “We didn’t want an eyesore downtown.” 

Towry said the purchase will be funded from multiple pockets of money, but the city has been saving for the past decade, with the knowledge that an expansion would be needed in the future.  

With the potential to repurpose the space, the council has initiated a 60-day feasibility study. Design West Architects, Spokane, has been engaged to assess the building's capacity to accommodate city operations. 

"Design West has experience working with our school district, and they understand Ephrata," Towry said. "We are looking to them for guidance on how best to utilize this new space to meet city needs." 

The feasibility study will evaluate not only how the building can function as a city facility, but also what modifications will be required to ensure it meets contemporary standards for public service. Factors such as storage, meeting spaces and police department needs will be closely examined in the study. 

The increased demand for municipal services has been driven by Ephrata's growth, which Towry highlighted as a significant factor behind the council's push to secure the Rite Aid property.  

“As we continue to add patrol officers and address other staffing needs, we simply don’t have the room in our current facilities,” he said. “This new space offers a unique opportunity to better serve our community.” 

Council discussions have also reflected a strategic focus on downtown revitalization, with members expressing a strong preference for remaining in the area.  

"The council was adamant about staying downtown, investing in this area and supporting foot traffic," further justifying the choice of location for the new municipal facility, Towry said.  

Following the completion of the feasibility study, the council will have clearer insights into the most effective use of the property. Options being considered include creating shared spaces that could support various functions of city operations or addressing very specific needs of either the police department or city staff. 

While the new acquisition aims to bolster police operations and enhance city services, the existing combined facility will still remain under city ownership. This ensures that even with the potential shift, there will be continued operational capabilities on both sites. 

Towry said there have been discussions on using the extra space not used by city and police staff as a space for entrepreneurs to rent and work from. He said there have been discussions of adding meeting rooms that could be rented by the day, week or month.   

“We are excited about the possibilities and the potential impact this new space can have on our city,” Towry said. “Our goal is to make sure we use it in the best way for the community.”