The demolition of the Western Grocery Building appears to set a clear course for the county’s future courthouse plan.

Wednesday, December 19, 2001

The demolition of the Western Grocery Building appears to set a clear course for the county’s future courthouse plan.

Architects who conducted a county jail study are now working on a concept design and cost estimation for a new courthouse that would most likely focus on the expansion of the Law Enforcement Center building.

BKV Group, a Minneapolis-based engineering firm, concluded that a new law enforcement center should have 70,000 square-feet of floor area on which a 117-bed jail and the sheriff’s office would reside. An additional 5,370 square-feet for the city police department was also in the proposal.

Principal architect J. Owen Boarman has suggested two alternatives: A simple expansion for the LEC, and an expansion that will accommodate the LEC and courts.

The first alternative is an extension of the new courthouse proposal the company blueprinted in 1997.

Under this plan, a new two-story building that would house the county offices and courts would be built on the current parking lots to the east of the courthouse. The north building, built in 1954, would be eliminated, and the old courthouse would stay intact as a veterans office and meeting space.

The LEC building would be expanded to the south, using the space once occupied by Western Grocery, and a secured corridor segregated from public space would connect the jail and courtrooms in two separate buildings. The ability to transfer prisoners safely from the jail to the courtrooms has been a major reason the county has explored a new courthouse.

The second alternative intends to facilitate the courts and LEC functions in one structure. In this case the size of the new east block building would be modified.

Another alternative Boarman suggested was an off-site judicial center.

But the board might vote down this option since each scheme would cost $7,500 to prepare. &uot;If we were to stay in downtown, the off-site plan would be a waste,&uot; Board Chair Dave Mullenbach said.

By mid-January, BKV will complete the floor plans and cost estimation. The work involves a phasing plan for ongoing operations during the transition, and interviews with the judges to update the court needs.

Meanwhile the board would start negotiation with the city to vacate Pearl Street for the expansion project. Mayor Bob Haukoos already promised the city’s cooperation.