▁Hall , ▁so ▁city ▁polit icians ▁of ▁the ▁day ▁could ▁choose ▁any ▁odd ▁number ▁between ▁ 5 5 ▁and ▁ 1 0 5 ▁as ▁the ▁address ▁for ▁the ▁new ▁building . ▁ ▁They ▁chose ▁ 7 1 ▁to ▁comm emor ate ▁the ▁number ▁of ▁years ▁that ▁the ▁old ▁City ▁Hall ▁on ▁James ▁Street ▁North ▁had ▁been ▁in ▁use . ▁ ▁Prior ▁to ▁making ▁the ▁decision ▁to ▁construct ▁the ▁new ▁City ▁Hall , ▁council ▁had ▁considered ▁an nex ing ▁the ▁L ister ▁Block ▁for ▁offices ▁and ▁connecting ▁it ▁to ▁the ▁old ▁City ▁hall ▁via ▁an ▁overhead , ▁en closed ▁walk way ▁sp anning ▁James ▁Street ▁North . ▁ ▁In ▁ 2 0 0 5 , ▁Hamilton ▁City ▁Council ▁designated ▁the ▁building ▁as ▁a ▁her itage ▁structure . ▁Among ▁the ▁listed ▁her itage ▁elements ▁on ▁the ▁exterior ▁are ▁the ▁Italian ▁glass ▁tile ▁m osa ics . ▁ ▁Ren ov ation ▁In ▁May ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁Hamilton ▁City ▁Council ▁directed ▁staff ▁to ▁proceed ▁with ▁the ▁renov ation ▁of ▁the ▁building , ▁and ▁the ▁launch ▁phase ▁of ▁the ▁project ▁began ▁in ▁June ▁ 2 0 0 8 . ▁ ▁Cost s , ▁designs ▁and ▁delivery ▁of ▁the ▁project ▁were ▁approved ▁by ▁the ▁council ▁in ▁October ▁ 2 0 0 8 , ▁allowing ▁pre - const ruction ▁and ▁initial ▁renov ation ▁work ▁to ▁begin ▁later ▁that ▁year . ▁ ▁The ▁project ▁was ▁expected ▁to ▁be ▁complete ▁by ▁July ▁ 1 , ▁ 2 0 1 0 . ▁ ▁City ▁Hall ▁services ▁began ▁moving ▁back ▁to