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SEP 1.0 1994 eoe 58 fnf <br />$175,000. Commissioner Wodtke, therefore, questioned <br />whether it is wise to renovate in order to build a fourth <br />courtroom when for $85-90 per sq. ft. we can design and <br />build an elaborate courtroom facility just as we want it on <br />a piece of land that we already own. He noted that court- <br />rooms are very special use purposes, and if we do renovate <br />for that purpose and then move the courtrooms, it will cost <br />a great deal to renovate that space for some other use. <br />Commissioner Wodtke did feel that the County Court system <br />was the logical portion of the court system to be relocated <br />as it is the major traffic generator. As a former downtown <br />merchant himself, however, he,was concerned about the <br />downtown area and had no problem with committing that we <br />will maintain the downtown area as the judiciary hub. He <br />was not interested in putting the court system out at the <br />jail site. <br />Lengthy discussion continued re land available in the <br />downtown area for building and parking, and the cost of <br />renovating as opposed to the cost of building a free <br />standing courtroom complex as recommended by Commissioner <br />Wodtke. <br />Architect Calmes stated that the construction cost of <br />the courtroom was estimated at about $50 per sq. ft. for <br />- renovation, not including the sound system, furnishings, <br />etc., while the free standing courtroom would be estimated <br />at about $100 per sq. ft. He pointed out, however, that in <br />the courtroom complex you would have not only the expensive <br />courtrooms, but the ancillary facilities for office space, <br />etc., which space is much cheaper and would average down the <br />total cost per sq. ft. <br />Commissioner Lyons felt if we are going to stay down- <br />town, then we should figure to stay downtown all the way. <br />Either we are or we aren't, and we should make up our minds. <br />12 <br />M M M <br />