Community members can learn more about plans to renovate and expand the Judicial and Law Enforcement Center, which houses Douglas County District Court, during an upcoming open house.
The open house will begin with a brief presentation at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 1 in the Division 4 courtroom on the second floor of the JLEC, 111 E. 11th St.
Afterward, representatives of the county and Treanor, the local architectural design firm on the project, will be on hand to answer questions about the project until 6:30 p.m., according to a news release about the event. Those in attendance will also be able to view renderings and models of the proposed project.
“The existing building has 100,369 square feet of space. According to a study, Douglas County needs 157,183 square feet of space to meet the current needs in the JLEC,” according to the release. “That space is expected to grow to 185,185 square feet in five years and increase twofold in the next 20 years to 206,045 square feet.”
The project, which includes the addition of 57,000 square feet on the building’s south side, is estimated to cost $74 million total.
The project will also include a nearly 26,000-square-foot building on county land near the jail, which will house emergency communications, emergency management and possibly some sheriff’s office staff members, according to the release.
“The project will not require a tax increase,” according to the release. “It will be paid with bonds paid for within existing sales tax authority and cash on hand.”
The project will create separate paths of travel for members of the public, staff members and people in custody of the Douglas County jail; locate the law library and clerk of the district court closer to the main entry; and provide for future expansion of the courts system, according to the release.
In addition to Douglas County District Court, the JLEC building currently houses the district attorney’s office, emergency communications, emergency management, some sheriff’s office operations, information technology and building and maintenance staff.
The Lawrence-Douglas County Planning Commission will consider the project in July, according to the release. The goal is to start construction in January 2025.
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