State-Journal.com - Old shoe factory may be a good fit for court offices

The former Genesco Shoe factory at 112 Myrtle Ave. has been added to the list of possible sites for a temporary courthouse while the new $29 million judicial center is being built.

The state Administrative Office of the Courts had advertised for 30,000 square feet of office space and six sealed bids were opened on Oct. 1.

But after they were opened at AOC, it was discovered that one sealed bid received by the deadline had been overlooked.

Fred Burch, of Burch Associates, had a receipt showing his bid – for the old shoe factory – had been received before the 1 p.m. deadline on Oct. 1, according to Franklin County Judge-Executive Ted Collins.

Collins said Wednesday he’s visited buildings included in six of the seven bid packages.

“The building (owned by Burch) on Myrtle Avenue is probably the most well constructed building we visited,” Collins said. “It could very easily be made into a secured facility because of the way it’s constructed. It’s built like Fort Knox.

“However, if we could find space downtown it would be convenient for the Franklin County Bar Association. We have taken a very, very close look at the McClure Building and a building nearby.”

Oldham County’s Joe and John Dunn purchased the seven-story McClure Building – at the corner of St. Clair and West Main – this year and have an extensive renovation under way.

In their bid the Dunns said 24,470 square feet would be available on the first, second, fourth, sixth and seventh floors. An additional 18,600 square feet could be used in the St. Clair garage office space, the Dunns said.

Collins said he also was impressed by C. Michael Davenport’s 38,000 square foot technology center in Prevention Park and a 28,800 square foot building at 105 Sea Hero Road off U.S. 60 near Silver Lake subdivision.

The technology center was built in 2007 and sits at 669 Chamberlin Ave. The building on Sea Hero is owned by Ernest and Barbara Hanna of Lexington.

A 31,210 square foot building at 803 Schenkel Lane – where a Heck’s discount store was once located – “is still in the running as well,” Collins said.

The bidder on that facility was Safe Frankfort LTD of Amarillo, Texas.

“There are a number of buildings that would work well for a relocation,” Collins said. “But all of them would require some renovation work.”

Other sites inspected by AOC officials include the 20,500 square foot PlanGraphics building at 112 E. Main St. at the intersection of the Capital Avenue Bridge, and a 16,000 square foot building at 150 Flynn Ave. in Sower Office Park off the East-West Connector near Commonwealth Credit Union.

Submitting a bid for the PlanGraphics building was Sperry Van Ness on behalf of Capital View Development LLC.

PRG Investors of Louisville submitted the bid for the Flynn Avenue site.

Collins said that was the only site he didn’t visit because the square footage was considerably less than what AOC had requested.

James Bauman, an AOC architect for the Division of Capital Construction, will evaluate the sites and do a cost analysis, Collins said.

Collins said he also wants to get opinions from the Franklin Circuit and District Court judges.

A decision should be made by the end of November, said AOC’s Chuck McCreary, real property supervisor for the Department of Facilities.

McCreary said the site selected will be the “one that works best for the courts.” The total price will also be a factor, he said.

AOC’s recommendation will go to the Franklin County Project Development Board, which oversees the judicial center site selection and construction.

Collins, chairman of the board, said the site selected will be a cooperative decision by AOC, the board, the judges and Fiscal Court.

All the offices in the 1835 courthouse and annexes – including the circuit court clerk, sheriff and all district and circuit judges – will be moved.

The Fiscal Court Annex on West Main Street won’t be moved.

That includes the county clerk, commonwealth’s and county attorney, property valuation administrator, county planning and zoning, the judge-executive and his staff and other county offices.

Collins has said he hopes all the relocated offices can be open for business on Monday, Jan. 4, 2010, after the New Year’s holiday weekend.