The Board of Supervisors also asked for evaluation of three other options: clearing the entire site and selling the property, leasing the buildings “as-is” or doing nothing. Historic preservation of the buildings, originally built in the 1880s and remodeled and added onto over the decades, was also addressed. Estimated costs for the options examined ranged from almost $1 million for demolition, $1 million - $2 million for conversion to a library or community center, to $4 million for a parking structure.

At a presentation to the Board of Supervisors Tuesday, representatives of Synthesis Design recommended that the County keep control of the courthouse and its surrounding site, with the intent of reusing these assets for future public use. For the near term, the consultant strongly recommended “mothballing” or securing the buildings to prevent vandalism and degradation of the buildings. The supervisors voted to accept the report Tuesday and will look at a process to involve the public and other interested parties in deciding the future of the courthouse and related structures.