The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-18
COUNTY AND CITY
BOARDS To CONFER
ON JOINT BUILDING
Executive Session Will Be
Held In City Hall Friday
Afternoon

First official steps toward a de-
cision on whether or not the city of
Birmingham and jefferson county
will jointly build and maintain city
hall and court house combined are
scheduled to be taken at special
meeting of the city commissioners
and county board of revenue in the
o'clock. AS the meeting is for ten
tative discussion. the session will be
executive
All members OF the city commits
sion have expressed a desire to see
the matter brought to successful
conclusion. A tentative study leads
city officials to believe a saving of
a third Of the present expenses on
building operation can be made. W..
B. Leedy, realtor, stated at the week.
ly luncheon Of the Real Estate board,
Thursday that the Optimists club.
upon examination, sees where saw
made for the ta:; payers by con-
solidation of city and county ar
fairs.
What the attitude of the county
will be is not known. The invitation
extended to the board of revenue by
Mr.. McLendon recently was at once
accepted. d. C. Ball, chairman Of
the board OF revenue has expressed
a personal adverse opinion.
1t has been suggested that the
present city hall be sold on an offer
of 100000. Also it is said the city
hall could retain ownership in the
present city hall and rent it for a
sum that would pay the interest on
and retire a loan of $1,000.000.
The court house property has been
variously estimated at value OF
from 100000 to $650.000. No Of
fetal estimate has been made.
Other propositions are for the joint
building to be erected across from
the site of the auditorium. also that
the city have a building on one side
of Woodrow Wilson park and the
court house located on the other.
other suggestions have been made.
Options Obtained.
options have been obtained on por
tions. if not all property in the block
bounded by Sixth and seventh
avenues and Seventeenth and Eigh-
teenth streets, north, with the view
that city and county might combine
in the purchase of this property for
joint city hall and county court
house properties.
In other quarters serious con-
sideration of the plan suggested by
Judge Dan A. Greene for new coun-
ty court house has developed and the
Junior Chamber of Commerce is
making special study of this pro-
posal as we'll as others through its
court house committee. Judge
Greene's plan is for a new court
house on the county jail lot. 100 by
200 feet. This plan does not en-
brace jointure with the city hall.
The third proposal which will be
actively pressed, it is understood, is
the location at Eighth avenue and
and East Twentieth street adjoining
on woodrow Wilson park. This carr
ries with it the idea of joint city
hall and court house building.
O O O
JniI Lot Plan.
The investigation of the jail lot
plan has evolved the following sug-
gestions: That the county build a
10 to 12-story building there. The
three top stories are to be used as
Jail and the remainder of the build
ing by all county officers and juries.
The present court house is to be re-
tanned for courts alone, some re-
modelling to be done to make 1t more
commodious.
Advocates of this plan say 1t can
be put through at a cost of $3.50, 900
and that, under this plan, the coun-
ty will retain its valuable present
holdings.