With plans for a proposed downtown area in the town having hit an indefinite pause, Irmo Town Council continues to consider options for a new town hall.

On June 6, at its regularly scheduled workshop meeting, the body discussed a new strategic plan for the town, including the possibility of a new town hall.

According to Town Administrator Courtney Dennis, the new strategic plan will be a guiding document that will set the vision, goals, mission and objectives for the town moving forward. But while the need for a new town hall has been discussed multiple times in the recent past – and was included within plans for the new downtown area Irmo was briefly set to build – Dennis said it is not currently a priority among items being considered for the strategic plan.

Town Council began making moves to prepare for the proposed downtown development, to be located near Irmo Community Park, late last year, but was almost immediately hit with pushback from residents of the predominantly Black area, who did not want to be displaced.

By late January, plans for the development were put on pause.

Council voted in December of last year to purchase 1.82 acres of land to make way for the development, which was set to take up 12 parcels and include retail, condos and additional parking. The town has purchased one of those parcels, with Dennis telling the Chronicle there are no current plans to purchase more.

The town administrator said council had not decided if it will continue to pursue the downtown development.

Dennis previously told the Chronicle that the town is “busting at the seams” at its current town hall, advocating for a new facility to allow it to sustain itself for more than 30 years without having to consider further expansion. He referenced neighboring municipalities like West Columbia, Chapin, and Lexington that have town and city halls structured for ongoing growth.

While the timeline of when a new town hall could be constructed is now unclear, Dennis told the Chronicle that Irmo has secured a location next to the town Police Station for the new town hall, mentioning that the property was a donation from the Irmo Fire District. He said council also approved the purchase of an adjacent property that will potentially be used for parking.

Despite the preparations for a larger space, the town administrator said that he does not believe the Irmo has hit a critical need for new space, adding that the town does have a few options that could quickly add space for the town.

“That will be dependent on our growth over the next 12-24 months,” Dennis said. “I do not need the space today. I will need the space if the town council decides to add any additional staff members to the town hall. We are out of current configured office space.”

The town currently has multiple employees working in dual roles with one employee serving as a pointman for payroll, human resources, and bank conciliation. Dennis previously said that as the town grows there will need to be a separation of duties,

One potential option for quickly adding space came during the June 6 workshop, with Council Member Bill Danielson proposing breaking the lease at a building the town owns and rents out, mentioning that this would add the space needed until the town has a new location.

Dennis said this would not be a permanent solution and that the long-term goal would be to construct a new town hall.