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Wednesday Sunrise Weather 5/22/13
Midland's Old County Courthouse Could Soon Be Demolished 3/13/13
CBS 7 News
Robert Guaderrama
rguaderrama@cbs7.com
March 13, 2013
MIDLAND, TX - It's been a question for some time, what is going to come of the old County Courthouse in Midland. Mayor Wes Perry announced today that the City and the County almost likely be tearing down the old County Courthouse. The old Midland County Courthouse could soon be a memory of the past.
"It does pain my heart to think we have something that's historic and I were tearing it down it hurts me but at in the day do you really want a building that's not in use not functional and is deteriorating right in the middle of our downtown?" said Mayor Wes Perry, City of Midland.
"We spent two years trying to figure out can we salvage it and I think City Council and the County I’m not sure for sure have all come the conclusion that it's not salvageable," said Mayor Perry.
Mayor Perry says the cost of tearing the courthouse down would be around $300,000 where as restoring the building would have a price tag up more than $20-million. Mayor Perry says the heart of downtown should be something to be proud of. A sort of "City Center."
"A place for retail whatever kinds of events that we want to have it could have some housing it could have some offices," said Mayor Perry.
But nothing is set in stone and no plans will be finalized until Midland County sells the county land the courthouse sits on over to the City.
"For us to do anything we have to work out a deal with the county we do discussions but of course no votes have occurred but something is going to happen pretty quick," said Mayor Perry.
Mayor Perry says that we can expect a full announcement to take place sometime next week.
Here's a related Press Release from the City:
The City of Midland will consider purchasing the old Midland County Courthouse if authorized to do so through votes by City and County officials during special sessions.
Plans for the former courthouse site on Wall Street would include a state-of-the-art mixed-use high-rise to anchor ongoing downtown revitalization efforts.
City Council will consider authorizing purchase of the property at a special meeting Monday and to enter into a development agreement with Energy Related Properties to explore redevelopment of the site, adding a future landmark on the city’s skyline that will include a five-star hotel, Class A office space, retail, residential space and an entertainment center in the downtown area.
County Commissioners will also consider during a subsequent special meeting the transfer of the site and property to the City of Midland. The old courthouse was built in 1930 and served as the courthouse and jail for Midland County for decades before the County moved to a larger facility in 2010. The courthouse currently stands vacant.
“We are incredibly grateful for the cooperation and partnership between City and County officials,” said City Manager Courtney Sharp. “We are excited for the plans in store for this site and what they will mean for the future of Downtown Midland. This will be an extraordinary use of land and make it an even bigger asset to the community.”