At least that is a prospect under consideration by the Person Board of County Commissioners as a means toward resolving long-standing space needs among departments within the courthouse.

During their regular meeting last week, commissioners voted unanimously to further explore an option for leasing the 1,280-square-foot commercial space at the corner of Abbitt and South Main streets that formerly housed Maxway and Rose’s in Uptown Roxboro.

A preliminary plan presented at the meeting called for the building’s owner to renovate the structure to meet the needs of the Register of Deeds and the Tax Department and to lease it to the county at a rate of $9.43 per square foot, or $121,000 a year for 15 years.

With their action last week, commissioners did not authorize the deal but rather voted to have the building owner firm up his figures and present a formal contract for the county’s consideration, perhaps as early as commissioners’ mid-month meeting on Dec. 17.

That move followed a discussion with Register of Deeds Amanda Garrett, consultant Bill McAffrey of MHA Works in Durham and architect Lucien Roughton with the Durham firm of Roughton-Nickelson-De Luca. McAffrey was hired by the county to develop a plan for addressing the courthouse space needs while working with the officials of the various departments housed there. Register Garrett has been leading the charge for more space for her office, as well as for others, since 1994.

In October, commissioners directed McAffrey and Garrett to explore the availability of commercial space in the vicinity of the courthouse that might accommodate some of the county functions now in the courthouse, and last Monday, McAffrey presented a report offering four options.

One option, which had been discussed earlier, was renovation of the now vacant former county jail, encompassing almost 4,280 square feet, on the top floor of the courthouse, to accommodate offices for judges and the district attorney. Construction and design costs of that project are estimated at $540,000.

The Maxway building constituted the second option.

Another available building, which was not identified, offered about 6,590 square feet, but the cost of renovation would fall to the county at an estimated $50 per square foot. But this building would also require installation of an elevator, estimated at $60,000. Those costs plus the lease cost would add up to a first year cost to the county of $403,400, or $458,600 over five years, averaging $13.91 per square foot.

The fourth option was another unidentified Uptown building of about 8,700 square feet, which the county could buy for $350,000 and renovate. It, too, would require an elevator. This option would cost the county $866,600 over five years, or an average of $19.85 per square foot, dropping to $6.62 after 15 years.

Replying to a question from County Manager Steve D. Carpenter, McAffrey said no matter which option the county chose, additional renovation would be necessary in the courthouse to ready the vacated offices for use by the departments that would remain there.

Carpenter noted that the courthouse would require some HVAC system changes, fire safety and security measures and a room in the basement for use by the courts.

Clerk of Court Debbie Barker confirmed the latter at last week’s meeting, saying the Superior Court needs another jury room.

“We have one jury room that does cause us a problem when you’re escorting jurors down the same halls that defendants, jailers, bailiffs and everybody else is traveling down,” Barker told commissioners. “Logistics are awful up there, as you well know.”

Renovation of the old jail, McAffrey said, would help satisfy immediate needs but not accommodate growth.

McAffrey said the Maxway building “will satisfy the courthouse needs for 15 years.” He also said it was his understanding, although he could not as yet speak with certainty, that the $9.43 psf rate would be consistent throughout the term of the 15-year lease.

Roughton, presented a preliminary design plan for renovating the Maxway building to suit the county’s needs, emphasizing that the owner would bear both renovation costs and regular maintenance. That option, he said, offers a number of advantages in that it provides more space than any of the other options, is all on one level, prominently located and easily accessible to the public.

“It would be difficult to find anything nearby that has that kind of close relationship to the courthouse,” Roughton said.

Commissioner Larry Yarborough questioned the $9.43 psf cost, observing that the going lease rate for Uptown buildings typically is less. He wondered aloud if the owner of the Maxway building would consider renovating half the space now and more later as needs grew.

Register Garrett replied that she wasn’t aware that was an option when the owner was approached.

“Right now,” Garrett said, “I have less than 1,800 square feet. I don’t have enough room for all my employees to be in my office.”

She went on to say of the Maxway building option, “I think it’s a wonderful plan.”

Garrett also indicated that the renovated facility could be ready within about five months.

Commissioner Larry Bowes observed, “I feel like … the time has come to do something. They’ve run out of space. They’re doubled up; they’re piled up. … We’ve just outgrown the quarters. The longer we continue to wait, regardless of which way we go, whether we build, whether we rent ... it’s costing us every year and not easily either. … If you go into it on a piecemeal basis the cost is going to go up and the next time you get ready to add on again, that price is doubled. It’s just a matter of do you want to build something or do you want to rent something?”

Bowes indicated the Maxway site probably offered the best proximity to the courthouse as is ever likely to come along.

“I just think it’s a good plan for where it’s at and an opportunity to do it.” Bowes added.

Commissioner Jimmy B. Clayton then moved to direct the consultant to have the building owner “firm up the figures and get us a contract for us to look at and see what we have to deal with.”

In discussion, Yarborough, referring to a least cost over 15 years, commented, “I’ll look at it but … if we’re going to spend $1.2 million, we might as well buy the building.”

Clayton’s motion passed without dissent.