Plans for the construction of a new jail in a student housing area took another step Tuesday.
The Eau Claire County Board voted 20-7, with two board members absent, to allow the county to purchase two student-rental properties for land for the proposed new jail.
The County purchased 756, 756 1/2 and 760 First Ave. from Investment Realty owner Gunnar Hagen for $260,000.
These properties will be demolished in the summer of 2008 to clear space for the proposed jail, but Hagen will keep the rentals until May 2008 when the leases are up.
“The County Board is faced with a concern for its jail,” said Frank Draxler, director of purchasing for the city and county of Eau Claire. “We have to have room to put inmates and this is the option that they came up with.”
Since 2003, the county and city have been looking at various options to solve its jail, courthouse and law enforcement space problems, Draxler said.
After looking at several options, he said the city and county elected in June to go ahead with a $59.1 million project that includes building a new jail between First and Second avenues, east of the current courthouse, he said.
This option includes a new law enforcement center on the ground and first floor of the county courthouse and the remodeling of the courthouse for general county government.
The new jail requires the county to purchase properties in that area, Draxler said, adding there could be anywhere from six to 10 properties affected.
The properties along Lake Street aren’t affected at this point, he said.
Draxler said the county bought properties in the area as they became available and currently owns two other homes between First and Second Avenue and Lake and Grand Avenue.
“The county bought some within the past several years, because they knew eventually we needed it for parking or building or both,” he said. “If this project wouldn’t go forward, the county still may purchase these properties, because we need parking.”
He said some students may be concerned that this will make it more difficult to find rental facilities close to campus, but overall, the impact won’t be that heavy.
The county is waiting for the leases to be up before the tenants must move out, Draxler said.
Hagen said he doesn’t think student housing will be affected at all.
“I think we have a surplus of off-campus housing,” Hagen said. “We already gave our tenants notice that we will not be renewing their leases . for the ’08-’09 school year.”
Senior Joel Norgaard, a resident of Second Avenue, said he is moving away soon, so this project won’t affect him. But he said he doesn’t see anything wrong with the location.
“There’s a courthouse down there, so I don’t really see a huge problem having (the jail) there.”