Refurbishing: First level will have offices. Upper levels may be used for the arts and possibly museum, displays, recital halls.
It looks as if Utah County will continue to subsidize the county courthouse regardless of who leases space in the soon-to-be refurbished building.
That decision, along with myriad others, will be the first to be made in the following months as members of the Utah County Courthouse Committee meet to develop ideas for future use of the building.The committee met Monday to review the available building space, possible rental rates and whether the building could be self-supporting.
County Engineer Clyde Naylor estimates the 64-year-old building maintenance costs to be $100,000 to $200,000 a year - mostly because of high utility costs.
At a rental rate of $8 to $12 per square foot, the 23,000 square feet available would generate between $184,000 and $276,000. That, Naylor said, wouldn't leave enough to pay for remodeling costs.
"Regardless of what we do, it will have to be subsidized," County Commissioner Brent Morris said. "I think you can go forward with that in mind."
Commissioner Sid Sandberg said he preferred to have the building be self-supportive, but agreed that that may not be possible. "There is nothing on the table that indicates we can be self-sustaining."
The committee is leaning toward using the building for the arts with a possible museum, displays and recital halls on several floors. The first level could be used for office space, specifically for such organizations as the Utah County Travel Council and, possibly, the Provo/Orem Chamber of Commerce.
But specific uses will not be determined until the committee has a chance to present information before art and civic groups in the community as well as before the public in hearings.
The committee agreed to put together a presentation with sketches of the building floor plans and interior perspectives to present to the public for input on building uses.
At those presentations the committee hopefully will learn if the public is willing to subsidize the building for arts, Morris said.
The courthouse will be vacated the end of 1991 when the 4th District Courts move into their new building in Provo.
About $1.9 million has been set aside to remodel the building and bring it to seismic standards and safety codes.