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oRANCE a x=y `J ' BOAM OF COMISSIONErS ActiCn Aqenda ACTION AGEMA T= ABSTPACT Item NO.J MEES-MgG March 7, 1983 Subject: Court Facilities p t, County manager PW3'lc Herrin : yes X no p. t s tion O=tac r: Yes County Manager's Office phone Number: 732-8181 PULWM: For the Board to consider further recommendation in regard to the expansion of County provided court facilities. At the February 7, 1983 meeting of the Board., Mr. Robert Giles of the N. C. Administrative Office of the Courts presented a report detailing current and projected needs for expanded court facilities in Orange County. As to the long term, Mr. Giles concluded from case filings and population projection that a need will exist to construct a Courthouse Annex to provide an addi- tional 20,159 square feet of space by the year 2000. This would allow for an additional Superior Courtroom, two District Courtrooms, Clerk of Court Office expansion and other ancillary functions. It will take time to develop the means (funding source, plans and specifi- _cations) for undertaking the Annex. In the meantime, a stop-gap measure is needed to overcome the immediate space deficiency as relates to conduc- ting District Court cases (the present basement courtroom is, 903 square feet versus a minimal requirement of 1,300). Attached report provides staff evaluation of the four alternatives Mr. Giles identified for dealing with the problem., There are strong disadvantages connected with each. However, when all factors are taken into consideration it appears that reactivating the courtroom in the Old Courthouse is the course that poses the- least number of disadvantages and cost amount. IWACT: Briefly summarized the impacts of the four alternatives suggested are as follows: 1. Convert 2nd Floor of New Courthouse Cost to renovate the space for a new courtroom would be $20,000. Added to this would be the c05.t to purchase and renovate or construct a new building for the 2,000 feet of County Office space that would be dis- located. It' does not appear justifiable to invest a high amount, as this would entail for an interim measure. 2. Renovate Courtroom in Old Courthouse A cost of $60,000 to $70,000 to renovate the courtroom in the Old Court- house which does not include the central air conditioning, furnishings, an elevator or the restoration of the exterior of the building. 3. Conversion of County-Owned Buildings (Agriculture Building) This too would involve relocation of County Offices in order to provide a courtroom. The cost is uncertain. Moreover, present design and loca- tion of load bearing walls are such as to restrict what could be accom- plished in the form of a courtroom. 4. Acquisition of Existing Privately Owned Building Acquisition cost would be required in addition to renovation.