The Fall of City Hall

Something everyone seems to agree on: City Hall is a mess, and there isn't enough money to fix it. At least according to the Sentinel and Enterprise.

City Hall is an old building with a lot of problems (some would say both physically and metaphorically), and there appears to be no solution to all the problems (some would say both physically and metaphorically). It's drafty, worn out, and needs a ton of money to be fixed.

We love old City Halls. They can bring a sense of dignity and class to city government, even when city government is struggling to supply both to the community.

Here's our idea: Sell City Hall and let the buyer turn it into condos. We can hear the cries of opposition, but this is a way to preserve the dignified facade of City Hall -- certainly a highlight of downtown -- and also generate some activity in that area of town by bringing in condo buyers.

Also, it supplies cash to build a new City Hall. A gleaming, shiny new City Hall that will proclaim the era of a New Fitchburg. A creative, vibrant innovative Fitchburg.

If the current City Hall is a connection to the "good old days" and a reminder of Fitchburg's greatness, a new City Hall can be the harbinger of the city's return to glory.