Old medical offices are being renovated into Edmond city offices

What was once the downtown medical office of Dr. Ralph Payne and Dr. Wallace Coyner is being renovated to house about 50 city employees who must move from the administration building at 23 First St.

The administration building, once a parking garage, is being torn down to make room for a new public safety center.

Renovations started in November on the building, located to the north of Simply Southwest or what was once Jim's Pharmacy.

The brick medical office building was in the center of several additions, with a single roof covering the entire structure.

The outside of the brick building will not be disturbed in the renovation that is expected to be completed in February, said Ross VanderHamm, finance director and city clerk.

The building, which takes up nearly the entire block, was used by the Hope Center and an oil company after the clinics closed, said Pat Peters, who works with Bob Weiss, he building's owner.

Utility customer service and the finance department, which includes purchasing, payroll, treasury, accounting staff and human resources, will move into the 13,000-square-foot building.

City officials will pay nearly $20,000 a month to rent the building for up to five years. They are paying $360,000 for tenant improvements.

Eric Grabowski, general contractor for Lippert Bros. in Oklahoma City, said the entire building had to be gutted down to the slab floor. He said an average of 20 people a day is working on the renovation project.