SOLON — With an eye toward future growth and redevelopment the Solon City Council approved a $1.1 million purchase price for the Brosh Chapel, located at 100 S. Cedar St., during their regular meeting Wednesday, April 2. The move came after years of discussions with owner Matt Linn “(Matt) Linn, has let the City know on occasion that the building is still for sale and at one point, Linn expressed interest in a trade of the Brosh Chapel for the former fire station building though Linn later reconsidered,” said City Administrator Cami Rasmussen. In 2011, she said, the City considered relocating City Hall to the Brosh Chapel in the wake of a failed bond issue.
“Though a trade was no longer on the horizon, the Council was still interested in the Brosh building for a possible City Hall location,” said Rasmussen. “Knowing more city hall space would be needed as the city and staffing grew, the Council wanted to know if the Brosh Chapel was still an option before making any decisions on the former fire station building.”
She added the Council had considered renovating the former fire station for use as a new City Hall. Since the opening of the new fire station in December 2022 the old station has been used to store Public Works Department vehicles and for some recreation programs.
“The City Council directed city attorney Kevin Olson to begin formal negotiations on the Brosh building, which lasted several months,” said Rasmussen. “Recently an agreement was reached for a $1.1 million purchase price with a May 1st closing.”
The 8,942 sq. ft. Brosh building was built in 2002 and sits on 1.59 acres. According to real estate listings the building has an open layout with several existing offices, a commercial grade catering kitchen with a cooler and beer taps licensed by Johnson County, with a large social gathering space on the lower level. The building also features an energy efficient geothermal Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system and two parking lots.
Some interior remodeling will be done prior to the City occupying the building, Rasmussen said, noting the move will likely occur later this year. City reserves, she said, will be used to pay for the building. Proceeds from future land sales adjacent to Main Street will be used to replenish those reserves. Since 2020 the City has acquired several properties between Iowa and Dubuque Streets behind businesses along the north side of Main Street with an eye toward redevelopment. The properties include three houses and three mobile homes, all of which have been demolished and removed. A formal decision on the future of the old fire station, and soon-to-be vacated city hall has yet to be made.
The City’s Comprehensive Plan and Downtown Vision Plan (https://www.solon-iowa.com/312/ Future-Planning) include concepts for expanding the downtown district to the north.
Brosh building will be Solon’s fourth City Hall
Rasmussen provided a historical perspective showing how as the city has grown, so too has City Hall with relocations to meet the increasing demands.
“The current City Hall building opened in May 2014. The City purchased the two-story building that was originally on the property and also purchased the house that sat where the City Hall parking lot is currently. Prior to the current location at 101 N. Iowa Street, the City Office was located at 223 S. Iowa Street. which was also the former fire station and library building, now the Sheriff’s Office Solon Substation.”
Before the S. Iowa St. location, the City Office was located in a small room in the former school building, now the Solon Community Center. “I’ve been told that the city offices were in a house/ building that sat where the Community Center gym is located,” she said. “The rumor goes that the school wanted the property to add the gymnasium and promised the city office a home in the school for 99 years. When I started my local government career in 1998, I worked in that room which was big enough for two desks and a council meeting table.”