TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)– A $4.5 million plan to demolish the old Vigo County jail facility will officially move forward.
The Vigo County Council voted 6-1 to approve the project, with councilmember Todd Thacker being the only dissenting vote. The plan incorporates a number of phases, with the first being moving the communication tower and equipment out of the building.
Councilmembers said they spent much of the last week asking questions so they felt more comfortable with the proposal. Vicki Weger said it was seeing the condition of the building that was the biggest factor in her decision.
“It really was a calamity when we began to investigate it,” the councilmember said. “Part of the foundation had sunk, part of a wall had pulled away from the roof and so forth, so the folks at Garmong Construction who had the contract done, we’re talking about just an astronomical cost for a renovation.”
The first step will be moving equipment currently stored in the basement, as well as a communication tower that’s on the property, which will take place before the demolition can occur, according to Vigo County Commissioner Chris Switzer.
“As early as next Tuesday, [March 19,] we are going to sign a contract to purchase the building that could be a six-month timeline to put the equipment that’s in the basement in,” he said. “Once we get that building in place and equipment moved, demolition can happen, which probably won’t take place until later this fall or maybe even toward winter.”
Switzer said once the building is gone, there will also be additional handicap parking for the courthouse as well as a green space which he believes will help revitalization efforts downtown.
“At the beginning I thought this was a jail demolition, but this is really truly a transformation of downtown Terre Haute,” he said. “As the riverfront plan comes to fruition, and as we’re bringing the Wabash to the river, I think this is vital to that project.”
