The new Burien City Hall/King County Regional Library Building may cost $2.4 million less than anticipated earlier.

Burien Public Works Director Steve Clark told council members on Sept. 12 that was the indication of a new estimate by the project oversight committee.

"The [committee] has completed the conceptual phase and has reached a design concept, which they're going to advance into the schematic phase," Clark told the lawmakers.

He noted that their first concept consisted of a three-story facility with the library above parking and city hall on top.

"This project estimate was about $2.4 million over the estimated budget that we had for the project," he continued.

The significant aspect of the new option is that it would reduce the square footage of the building from approximately 56,500 to 52,000, resulting in the cost savings, Clark noted.

While the basic design is still a three-floor concept, he explained that the advantage of the new design, in addition to reduced square footage, is "more shared space between the library and city's facilities.

"So even though the programs are reduced a little bit, there's the opportunity that both sides will take more advantage of the fact that there's more space being shared between the organizations."

"Hopefully it'll be inviting for [the public] to see our government in action while walking by," declared Councilman Jack Block Jr.

Clark also noted that there is the possibility of an opportunity, which is being preserved, for future expansion on the city hall/regional library site.

One option might be additional parking. Another might be a small theater or complex for a community of performing arts for the city.

City Manager Gary Long said if the space does become a performing arts structure, one of the decisions might be to have another layer built on top for parking.

Pending approval by the council at the end of November, the design development phase will be completed by April 2006.