The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-12-12
County Officials Consider
Four Down Town Blocks
as Possible for New
County Center
NAY CONDEMN PROPERTY
Committee to Make Recommendation
Of Site to the Members OF the Board
and It is Expected Work VIII
Start in Late Spring.

Kenosha County went out this morn
ing to get site for the proposed new
county court house and county official
center. Four blocks, in and near the
down town district of the city are be-
ing considered and options on the prop
erty are being sought. The members
of the committee have secured some
options on property and with view
OF securing the property at fair price
the board when it meets in January
will find that the committee has options
which would make possible the closing
up of any one of the four deals pro-
posed. The property that is being con-
sidered as a site for the new building
may not appeal to the county board
when it meets again and the property
owners who are giving the options are
being advised that their property may
not be wanted unless it is offered at a
price which will be fair to every one
concerned. The four blocks considered
by, the committee include: The block
directly opposite the present court
house, bounded by Market street on
the south, Pearl street on the north,
Sheridan road on the west and Chicago
street on the east. The block bounded
on the north by Park street, on the
south by Wisconsin street, on the west
by Congress street and on the east by
Sheridan road. The block known as
THE Kimball property on Prairie
avenue to South street. The block on
Market street bounded by Congress
street on the east, West street on the
west and running through to Park
street
The members Of the committee have
placed no price on the properties con-
sidered but they have carefully exam
ined the assessment rolls Of the city and
know just about the value Of the prop
erty.
In case the property finally selected
by the board can not be purchased at
what is considered fair price for it
the county board has full power to pro-
coed with condemnation proceedings.
Many property owners have already
shown a willingness to offer the prop
erty to the county at a reasonable price
and options being signed by these peo>
pie are considered very fair to the
county. District Attorney Peter Fisher,
Jr., is in charge Of the work Of getting
the options and they will be turned
over to the committee some time be-
tween now and the first of the year.
The committee will take no steps to
secure plans and specifications for the
proposed new building or buildings
until after the county board has def
nitely selected the site for the build
ing. Many architects have already ask
ed for the privilege of submitting
sketches for the proposed building but
they have been advised that the com
mittee will not act at this time and
that it may be early spring before the
plans and specifications will be sub
mitted TO the board. It is expected
that after the meeting of the board in
January and the closing up of some
deal for the site that meetings will be
held from time to time to take up the
question of the plans.
The members Of the committee are
hopeful that the work on the building
will be started some time in the late
spring or early summer and that the
building will be completed within
year after the corner stone is laid.