After contemplating for more than two years to relocate into the new Park Place development, Chamber of Commerce board members have decided to stay at the current location and renovate the building.

Chamber President and CEO Scott Soldat-Valenzuela described the board’s decision as “visionary” and “prudent.”

He released a statement after the board’s April 11 meeting.

“Sometimes the best home is the one you are in,” said Soldat-Valenzuela. “We looked at several options but found more advantages to staying put with major upgrades and continuing to own our own piece of Fountain Hills.”

New features under consideration, he said, are a state-of-the-art visitor’s center with advertising possibilities, shared work space, event space, a new kitchen and an additional conference room.

The Chamber owns the two-story, 5,400-square-foot building at 16837 Palisades Blvd., the intersection with N. Verde River Drive.

The Chamber paid off the mortgage after seven years of payments in September 2005. The structure, built in 1998, consists of a tourism welcome center staffed by volunteers; staff offices, a pair of conference rooms and a small kitchen.

“The renovated Chamber office and visitors center will be a boon to businesses in the area with additional services and an eye on the future development will be determined once an architect is chosen for the project,” the CEO said in a prepared press release.

Soldat-Valenzuela did not indicate the amount of money that the Chamber would save by remodeling its present location over a build-out in the leased Park Place quarters.

Last July, the Chamber proposed leasing three retail units totaling 3,498 square feet on the N. Verde River Drive ground floor of Park Place.

A month later, the Chamber and the town considered a joint venture in operating a Visitors Center. The town rejected the idea.

The majority of the Chamber’s revenue comes from the two major arts and crafts festivals in November and February, and is supplemented by membership dues.

Board chair Paul Perreault commented on his colleagues’ decision.

“This is an excellent move and will save the Chamber hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next 10 years,” he said. “The new services we are exploring are nothing short of visionary.”

The Chamber has about 400 members.