CLEVELAND — The officials who manage and work in the outdated Cuyahoga County jail and courthouse took a major step today toward building a new one that will better serve the public and maybe even reshape the look of downtown.
A committee of judges, elected officials and administrators from Cleveland and Cuyahoga County unanimously backed a plan to study building a new jail at a campus-like site in the city. They said it would require fewer guards, making it more cost-effective to operate. The plan would also have room for additional jail-related services.
As part of this plan, the committee agreed to look at building a new mid-rise courthouse downtown with more courtrooms per floor than the current facility and space to add the now separate county domestic relations court. Consultants will now develop a detailed study of costs for such a plan.
This proposal was the only one of eight presented today that earned the backing of the 12 committee members, which includes County Executive Armond Budish and Cuyahoga County Court of Common Pleas Administrative and Presiding Judge Brendan Sheehan.
The committee also agreed to study two other options that garnered much less support from committee members. One of those plans includes renovating the existing courthouse after moving the jail.
Sheehan also urged the committee to study the cost of renovating the current jail and courthouse, though such a plan is expected to take more time and money compared to other options. Sheehan said he believes taxpayers should see an extensive study of the costs of renovating the outdated facilities so they can be confident the best plan was carried out. The committee agreed to study it.
Sheehan said he wants to be sure a new courthouse is the best option but said the current courthouse is “embarrassing.”
“The seats that jurors sit in are from the 1970's,” he said. “The courtrooms are not updated for lawyers and litigants and parties in there. If we can fix it, let's fix it. Let’s not waste the public’s money. But if it needs to be done new, let’s do that.
Budish told 3News he is focused on getting a new jail.
“There is urgency here, especially for the jail,” he said. “The sooner we can get it done the better. “
The potential savings from a better designed jail with fewer staff is estimated to save $27 million annually, according to documents presented during the meeting.
"The projected saving will go a long way to pay for a new jail if not cover all the cost," Budish said.
Hard costs for the whole project can't yet be made yet, especially since potential sites have not been identified. County spokeswoman Mary Louise Madigan said the county has been estimating the taxpayer bill could be between $200 million and $800 million, depending on the option officials ultimately back.
You can read the committee’s report and its proposals below.