Lawmakers mulling over future of old Ada County Courthouse

BOISE – Legislative leaders are undecided about the fate of the old Ada County Courthouse, which could be renovated or torn down for a new building.

The building has sat mostly unused since the state bought it in 1999. Some want to demolish it for a new building, while others want to preserve the 1939 courthouse. Either way, the space is slated to become the new Capitol Annex for offices and legislative hearing rooms.

A renovated building would cost $20.6 million and provide about 81,000 feet of usable space, Legislative Services Director Carl Bianchi said.

Demolishing and rebuilding would provide about 9,000 additional square feet for another $2 million, he said.

The Legislative Council authorized Bianchi to pursue the options with Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s staff and building fund board. But legislative leaders are undecided.

Bianchi told the Legislative Council that lawmakers need to make sure the annex is classy because it will be as much a part of Idaho government as the Statehouse 50 years from now.

“Whatever we do, that building is going to be the Capitol Annex in the heart of the Capitol Mall,” he said.

Estimates for renovation have increased by millions of dollars since the project was proposed.

“We need to do something before it goes up another $4 million,” Bianchi said.

House Speaker Bruce Newcomb and Senate Majority Leader Bob Geddes have been leading the push to take action on the building. Last week the state board that oversees the Permanent Building Fund – which pays for most repairs and new buildings with taxes – agreed to recommend to Kempthorne that $5 million be spent this year doing something.

Under one of Bianchi’s plans, the state could spend that $5 million, borrow the rest and pay back the loan in $1.1 million installments over the next 20 years.

Bianchi said he hoped the Legislature would approve renovation instead of demolishing the building. Local opposition to demolition would be huge, and Kempthorne might not support tearing it down, he said.

Still, it was clear that some lawmakers planned to keep fighting for a new building.

“Does this still allow us to do what’s right and demolish this?” asked Sen. Skip Brandt, R-Kooskia.

Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, who made the $5 million motion, said demolition remained an option.

But “what’s right,” he added, “is in the eye of the beholder.”