The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1926-01-08


Harrison's proposal, a result Q.
weeks Of study, is this:
That the present courthouse be
razed and the Washington st. side
of the county property he leased
for ninety-nine years.
That the new building be erected
on the Market st. side.
That the lease proceeds be used
to pay over period Of years
virtually the entire cost OF erection
OF the new building.
County commissioners refused t.
say whether they favored Harrison'f
plan or not. 1t is understood, how
ever, that a complete remodeling OF
the present structure with a wing
added would be favored by them
They said Harrison conferred with
them several months ago, when he
was surveying the utilization OF
space at the courthouse.
Points Out Need
Harrison pointed out that there 1,
a real need for more facilities at the
courthouse and that these could be
obtained through remodeling this
present structure or through con
struction Of new building. He ad.
vised against remodeling, as beins
considerably more expensive to the
taxpayers and expressed the opinion
that the plan he proposed would
cost taxpayers very little.
Extensive remodeling OF the
present courthouse, 1t is estimated
will cost 100000, and will provide
from 25 to 3S 1-S per cent more ad
ditional space" he said.
THE inevitable future growth OF
courts and offices will require the
building OF new wings to the old
structure In a few years If the re.
modelling plan is adopted. The cost
of remodelfng and erection Of new
wings would go far toward covering
the cost OF the new building.
by abandoning the present build.
ing and realizing on the sale of the
Washington st. frontage a modern
new building could be erected at a
smaller net cost than would be in.
Cured in remodeling the old struc.
tude building new wings.
Need once Building
Modern county Office require
ments demand the office building
type Of multiple-storied building. II
is obvious that the courthouse
square is many times larger than
is needed as the site or sites for
multiple-storied courthouse main
building and later year annexes. AT
least one-half of the courthouse site
could be disposed OF.
"In placing the Washington St
frontage up for cash sale It would
be difficult to obtain full value.
'By leasing the south half of the
courthouse site for ninety-nine years
Marion County could derive income
sufficient to pay full cost and inter
est charges of a new building de-
voted exclusively to county uses,
costing in the nelghborhood of ss,
100000
Advantages Over Sale
Advantages of the lease arrange.
ment over sale would be:
l.. To enable the county Immediate.
ly to realize upon higher per front
foot property valuation.
2. To give the county the benefit
Of appreciation in value of the prop
erty over a long period Of years.
8. To enable the county to write
the equivalent of taxes into the year.
ly lease rentals even though the
ground is tax-exempt to the lessee:
and thus enjoy all OF the benefit
which would have to be divided
among other local taxing units II the
were sold.
A. To retain the title would give
an opportunity many years later to
make another decision as to how the
property should be used thence-for.
ward.
Pay Much of Cost
If the south half of the court.
house site should be leased on the
basis Of prevailing lease rental rates
the revenue would pay for the in
terest and debt retirement charges
on a new courthouse costing around
100000 within forty-four to forty
six years and the cost to taxpayers.
excepting interest charges during
tho period Of construction Of a new
building and clearing the old site,
would be nil.
Should it be found that there are
legal difficulties in the way of ieas-
ing portion Of the courthouse plot
at the present time, It would seem
desirable to postpone action on court
house improvements until an effort
could be made at the legislative ses-
sion In 1927 to secure legisIpion