A number of changes are happening near Market Street as a city contractor readies to begin work in the old city hall in preparation for tearing it down.

This week, the contractor is erecting construction fencing around the old building to contain the site and create a safe environment, according to a city press release.

The contractor will be doing hazardous materials abatement for several weeks before the demolition actually begins. Once the building is gone, a parking lot for the new city hall will be constructed.

“We thank everyone for their patience as we move into the final phase of the new city hall project, which will be complete this summer,” city spokeswoman Diana Klink stated in the press release.

Changes to vehicle and pedestrian traffic and parking being made this week are as follows:

• The crosswalk on Market Street from the municipal parking lot to the old city hall will be closed to pedestrian traffic. All stop signs and pedestrian crossing signage will be removed. Vehicular traffic will return to uninterrupted flow. All pedestrian traffic should remain on the north sidewalk of Market Street and the west side of Henley Place. Those walking to the new city hall should use the crosswalk at the intersection of West Washington Street and Henley Place.

• On-street parking on the south side of Market Street, by the old municipal building, will be eliminated, as the contractor’s fencing will be installed in that area.
• On-street parking along the east side of Henley Place will be mostly eliminated, with the exception of some spaces marked as reserved. The contractor’s fencing also will be installed in that area.
• On-street parking along the west side of Henley Place will be reserved mostly for 911 dispatchers, and signage will be in place.
• Additional parking for visitors to city hall is available at the West End Baptist Church parking lot.

Additional changes include the U.S. Postal Service mailbox, which will be located near its current location but outside of the contractor’s fence. The city’s drop box for treasurer and public utilities payments also has been moved near the third row of parking in the current city hall lot.