MATTHEWS - An investment by the city of Matthews is already paying dividends for its citizens.
In April, the Matthews Board of Alderman purchased a building at 301 W. Main St. for $400,000.
After years of sharing space in a bank building, the new location will serve not only as a new city hall but is being renovated to fill a variety of community needs, according to Matthews City Clerk April Spraggs.
“The council members thought (the purchase) would be a great way to give back to the community,” said Spraggs. “There is a lot of good in this building that we didn’t have before and we will be able to use well into the future.”
When the renovations are completed this fall, the building will also provide space for the community’s growing police department, along with a city courtroom, which will meet state codes. There will be an additional room set aside for the town’s library and for public restrooms.
Already the Oaks Nutrition Center is serving meals to senior citizens from the building’s kitchen area. While some seniors are choosing to carry their meals out, many can be found around the tables in the adjacent large meeting room.
According to Spraggs, the Council hopes to create a fitness center for the community as well at the building.
“We are very excited,” she said. “There will be more room for everybody.”
Contractors for the project are Morgan and Morgan Construction of East Prairie.
With the move, Spraggs said the Council is working to bring a new bank into the former city hall location to meet the community’s banking needs.