UCHRA remains on track to leave its longtime South Jefferson Avenue headquarters by the end of the year, with the agency hoping to open its new CC Camp Road office to the public before Christmas.
UCHRA originally anticipated beginning the move in late November. Executive Director Mark Farley said renovation projects can make exact timelines difficult to predict.
“With any time you’re doing renovations on a building, I mean, obviously it’s getting a little tight, but our goal is to be moved in by the end of the year, yes,” Farley said. “We’re still on track right now, and hopefully we’ll be able to have good weather and get that taken care of.”
Farley said UCHRA may begin operating from CC Camp Road before work on the entire building is complete. UCHRA will occupy only a portion of the renovated facility, meaning some exterior work could continue after the agency moves in.
Farley said the move itself and the complete transition of operations may not happen at the same time.
UCHRA has multiple offices across the region, giving the agency alternatives for handling client needs during the transition. Farley said the Development District office on England Drive could also be used temporarily if needed.
“I don’t see us having any interruptions in services,” Farley said.
Farley said the physical move could take longer than a previous three-day-weekend utilized during the agency’s previous relocation of the Development District.
“And we’re gonna try and time that around the, the holidays so that maybe it’s through a day that we’re off,” Farley said. “Not sure if that’ll come to fruition, but, you know, that’s, that’s what our goal is.”
UCHRA’s departure will also leave a large commercial space available along South Jefferson Avenue.
“The landlord there is actually marketing it,” Farley said. “I know he and I have had conversations, and certainly we’re gonna try and assist him any way possible to get a tenant ready to move in after we move out.”
UCHRA’s move will reduce the agency’s office footprint from about 39,000 square feet to about 18,000 square feet.