Construction of Hinesville’s new city hall officially began Thursday when a group of city officials, project managers and a Fort Stewart representative broke ground on the new facility, which will stand on the same M.L.King Jr. Drive lot as the old city hall.

“I think the new city hall is a great addition to downtown,” Mayor  Jim Thomas said. “It will serve as the centerpiece for the redevelopment of downtown and an anchor point for new businesses throughout the city.”

Hinesville’s old city hall was demolished in early June. The new 48,000-square-foot structure will be three stories high.

“One thing we wanted to see as our city grows is for our downtown to take the look of a  progressive downtown area,” Thomas said.

City Manager Billy Edwards said in an earlier interview that the project is funded by SPLOST dollars and a loan, and will cost about $7 million to complete. Choate Construction of Savannah was hired to build the new city hall.

“We’re thrilled to be involved in this project,” Choate project manager Kirk Gilbert said. “It’s not every day you get to build someone’s city hall, something that’s going to be so important to Hinesville’s history.”

Thomas said he expects city hall to be completed in 12-16 months.

The city’s water, community development, finance, human relations, building inspections and public relations departments are temporarily being housed on the second floor of Hinesville’s police station at 123 E. M.L. King Jr. Drive.