UCHRA again considering moving its headquarters from the South Jefferson Avenue location in Cookeville.
UCHRA has spent the past 15 years in the location. UCHRA Executive Director Mark Farley said moving would allow the agency to find a smaller facility
“One of the issues that has caused this to come about is because we are losing the commodities program,” Farley said. “And probably a pretty good chunk of the building that we are currently in is used as a commodities warehouse, and we no longer need that.”
Farley said the UCHRA’s current lease does not end until the end of next year. However, Farley said the search for a new location is underway.
“We don’t have a location in mind yet,” Farley said. “We do have some that we have started looking at. We’ve got a commercial real estate agent that we are working with, that’s given us advice and showing us the various options, but we have not decided on anything as of now.”
Farley said sufficient parking space is needed at the next location, should the transportation hub be moved as well. Farley also said the UCHRA is eyeing locations that are not in the middle of Cookeville.
“As Cookeville changes, it makes sense for us to be sort of on the outline areas of the city versus right in the middle,” Farley said. “We want to make sure that the retail and commercial operations that need space have all of the available locations that they can choose from.”
The UCHRA’s headquarters has moved to several locations throughout Cookeville since it was first established in 1973. Farley said it is likely best to find a location that is suitable for the next 10-15 years, rather than having a location with excessive space.
“You never know what is gonna change in the workplace,” Farley said. “We’ve got more employees working from home versus in the office. We have county offices where people can work if they need to, and not have to drive all the way into Cookeville. So, you know, as things change, it makes sense for us to evaluate our operations and determine what’s best for the next 10-15 years.”