Article published June 05, 2007
SENECA COUNTY
Study: Redoing courthouse is cheaper than building new
Renovation of the courthouse in Tiffin is put at $9 million, a new structure at $9.5 million. seneca county
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THE BLADE
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By JENNIFER FEEHAN
BLADE STAFF WRITER
TIFFIN - When the numbers came in, the lowest-cost option for a "new" courthouse turned out to be one Seneca County commissioners weren't even considering: renovating the old one.
James Schmidt of Mansfield-based MKC Associates told commissioners and a standing-room-only crowd yesterday that renovating the county's 1884 courthouse inside and out would cost just under $9 million, while razing the structure and building a new courthouse could cost nearly $9.5 million.
Two other options that commissioners were looking at turned out to be the most expensive. Razing the building but saving significant architectural features to incorporate into a new courthouse was estimated at $10.5 million. Demolishing and rebuilding the interior while preserving the faade would cost about $11.3 million.
Renovating the now-shuttered courthouse - something historic preservationists have rallied for - would involve removing the fourth floor, which was not original to the structure, and building a small addition to replace that lost space, Mr. Schmidt said.
"We, as architects and engineers, do not have a horse in the race here," Mr. Schmidt said, referring to the two sides that have formed over the preservation issue. "We're fact-finders."
While county commissioners made no decision about how to proceed, the study results pleased county residents who favor preserving the courthouse."I was very shocked to see this today," said Rayella Engle, of Tiffin, a member of the Save Our Courthouse committee.
She said she was surprised to learn both that MKC examined the renovation option and that it came in at the lowest cost. A prior courthouse study also found renovation to be the most cost-effective alternative, but county commissioners have not seemed to want to hear that, she said.
Lenora Livingston, president of the Tiffin Historic Trust, agreed that the renovation option "was never told to us," but said it was a nice surprise.
Commissioner Ben Nutter said even he was not aware MKC was looking at renovation as a fourth option until yesterday, but he promised to "duly consider all options."
"From the beginning, we have said we will do what we think is best for the county," Mr. Nutter said.
Dave Sauber, the board's president, said he wants MKC to estimate the cost to maintain the old courthouse if it is renovated. He said he's also concerned that renovation presents myriad unknowns, like structural or environmental problems, whereas new construction holds no such surprises.
"Inexpensive is not always the best," he said after the meeting, adding that commissioners need more information before making a decision. "These are tax dollars, and Seneca County is not a rich county."
Commissioner Michael Bridinger said he was encouraged by the report - both about grant money that could be available to assist Seneca County with the project and by the fact that renovation came in at a lower number than new construction.
"I called her a grand old lady," he said. "I'd like to save it and it looks like the money is out there to save it."
Mr. Bridinger, who took office Jan. 1, said he believes the courthouse is a county-seat landmark that ought to be saved.
"It's a magnificent building," he said. "Sure, she's got a broken arm, but we can mend that broken arm."
Plans call for putting the two common pleas courtrooms and clerk of courts' and prosecutor's offices in the new or renovated courthouse.
The adjacent courthouse annex, which is now home to those offices, would then house the probate and juvenile courts.
Contact Jennifer Feehan at:
jfeehan@theblade.com
or 419-353-5972.
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