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As it moves forward in considering of the County’s future space needs, the Legislature’s special Capital Program Review Committee today heard the findings of studies evaluating space in three county buildings.

Mark Kukuvka of LaBella Associates presented results from an in-depth space study of the County Courthouse, which assesses how the needs of the New York State Court System could be met. The New York State Court Facilities Act mandates counties provide adequate space to the State court system, a requirement affecting continued County use of Courthouse space.  The consultant also presented findings from two additional studies evaluating space use and availability in the County’s Human Services and Mental Health Buildings.

The Courthouse study projects it would cost nearly $3.3 million to support basic renovations to meet the Courts’ needs—which include such elements as relocating the Surrogate’s Court to the ground floor space to be vacated by the County Office for the Aging (COFA), reconfiguring space to incorporate family and support court waiting areas, attorney-client conference rooms, and a secure elevator and holding areas.

It would take more than a half-million additional dollars to convert the current Legislature Chambers and offices to a Supreme Court facility, bringing the total cost including that option to more than $3.8 million.  County Administrator Joe Mareane advised the committee that those figures do not include the cost of replacement space for displaced County facilities such as COFA and the Legislature.

The initial renovation phase would take a projected 15 months, at least 20 months for a full renovation including relocation of the Legislature.  Facilities Director Arel LeMaro advised that moving the Supreme Court into the main courthouse is currently described as a “strong preference” of the Courts, not yet a mandate, which is why it is separated out as a separate phase in the Courthouse study.

The consultant also presented results of a more cursory examination that finds space in the Human Services and Mental Health Buildings is fairly tight—at most about 1,000 square feet which might potentially be squeezed from Human Services and virtually no space available at Mental Health, aside from space currently leased to the Alcohol and Drug Council.  The County has been looking at potential space in those buildings as it considers possible relocation options for programs such as those which could be relocated from the dilapidated Old Library, Day Reporting and Records.

Also in the mix are space considerations related to the former Carpet Bazaar building, planned to be purchased by the County and occupied, in part, by COFA, which would need only a little more than half of the available space.  Potential options under consideration for use of the remaining space include the possibility of relocating other County departments currently in leased space or agencies such as the Human Services Coalition.

With the many location questions facing the committee, Legislature Chair Martha Robertson suggested a vision needs to be developed on the desired ultimate outcome and what decisions should be recommended, and when, in order to get there.  Planning Commissioner Ed Marx said he expects he can provide additional definition of the issues for the committee to consider by its next meeting February 10.

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