FARMINGTON — It's hard to imagine that the economy is good for anything these days, but it's a good time to buy, especially if you're planning to buy a city hall or other major building.

Three cities in southern Davis County are planning to expand or build new city halls this spring.

They're doing so in part because they need the space but also because the sluggish economy means lower prices for construction materials.

Such projects could also mean survival for local construction companies and a small shot in the arm to the local economy.

North Salt Lake expects to be able to pay cash for a new building adjacent to its current building and could break ground when the construction season starts in the spring.

Centerville plans to expand its city hall by 2,800 square feet and remodel the building's interior to better use space, said assistant city manager Blaine Lutz. The city plans to begin bidding out the project in February.

The Farmington City Council recently approved a letter of intent to sell Farmington City Hall to the Davis School District to trade up for a new building, which could see construction start in the spring.

The eventual sale, says City Manager Max Forbush, will depend on various factors, such as financing and the appraised value of the 25-year-old rock-facade building.

And the city has already purchased two parcels that adjoin the city's community center parking lot on the south for a future city hall site.

It's all part of an expansion effort approved by voters in 2006.

The city voted to bond for three construction projects, Forbush said: a new police station, which is expected to open at the end of January; a renovation of the city's police-fire building to house a full-time fire department; and a city hall expansion.

But renovating the city hall likely won't serve the city's needs in the long term, and the city decided to build a new building, especially if a favorable sale can take place to help with funding.

Originally, the city explored building a new city hall in place of Davis County's environmental health building, located on the east side of Main Street, but with the purchase of the two properties on the west side of Main Street, Farmington can build near the community center and city pool and create a city campus, Forbush said.

City officials are working with residents, Davis County and the school district to plan the site of the future city hall, he said.

Within the next six weeks or so, Forbush said, the city's plans for the new building are expected to be firmed up.

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E-mail: jdougherty@desnews.com