“It’s an architectural gem,” Cambridge City Manager Tom Carroll said of the historic City Hall at 307 Gay St. “It’s in the center of our central business district. It is one of the most iconic architectural structures we have in the community. So, we have to preserve it and restore it to its original glory.”

In fact, the current City Council has put it high on their agenda to revitalize and reoccupy the brick Colonial Revival style municipal building that was completed in 1926. At that time, it consolidated the city’s administrative offices with the Rescue Fire Company after it moved from its own building across the street. When the Edward E. Watkins Public Safety Complex was opened at 8 Washington Street in 2007, the RFC moved there, as did the police department, which had been located at 410 Academy Street since 1974. The next year, the city government transferred its offices to the old police headquarters.

The plan then was to immediately renovate the municipal building and move the government offices back.

“That was put on pause because of the Great Recession of 2008,” said Carroll. “I think there’s been some desire to do (the renovation), but I don’t think, in the intervening years, there’s been either the financial ability to do it or the passion. I think there are a number of people, elected officials and city leaders, who have wanted to do it, but it hasn’t been as much of a focused priority as this council is making it.”

And the council already has a cost estimate for the project: $8 million. That is based on a 2014 estimate of $4 million, which they doubled to account for inflation.

As the first step in the renovation, the Historic City Hall structure will need to be stabilized, cleaned out and rewired.

“Most of the building is going to have to be examined to find out what asbestos needs to be removed, if there’s any mold that needs to be remediated, any lead paint that needs to be removed,” explained Carroll. “Of course, a 1926 building will have lots of lead paint, so we’ll remove all those environmental issues so that it’s safe for workers and the public. But it’s going to need all new electric and mechanical and light systems that are historically respectful but that are contemporary and modern in terms of data needs, electrical needs, that kind of thing.”

At the same time, the city officials will develop an overall consensus around how the building will be repurposed and reused, and then they’ll put together a full renovation plan from that.

“There’s still plenty of opportunity for more engagement, more input, and more identification of what we want the building to ultimately look like,” said Carroll. “So, that needs to happen in the next year or two.”

Carroll believes the citizens are behind the endeavor, and he is certain it will benefit Cambridge through historic preservation and by bringing the city employees together in a modern, customer-focused building. He says there is also a desire to honor the legacy of the RFC, and that will be incorporated in the new look of the structure. Additionally, there could be an economic development component, since moving the government back to the old City Hall will free up 410 Academy Street for better use.

“So, it’s really a connection to our history and keeping city offices in the central business district,” said Carroll.

Besides the city manager and council, the renovation definitely has a supporter in the mayor of Cambridge.

“I think that it is a great idea,” said Steve Rideout. “We have talked about doing it for years but have not had the resources to make it happen. It will be a process that takes some time but needs to be done.”

Carroll would like the Historic City Hall to be reopened for business in time for its centennial in 2026. The City Council was set to hold a goal-setting session on Saturday, Feb. 4, with the project among the topics discussed.