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3. The aging condition of the Senator building would require extensive capital outlay in order to extend its useful life and increase efficiency. W.E.Group of Portland OR. was hired in 1993 to prepare the fust long range facility plan for the county. Several options were considered for the downtown campus. The consultants recommended a plan which envisioned the vacation of the Franklin and Senator Buildings and the construction of a new public service building on the Senator block. It was suggested that redevelopment of the Senator block be conducted in two phases over 10 years. The plan indicated that the county would need at (135,000 ns~ to meet its 20 yeaz growth projections. Following the wmpletion of the WB. Group faciliry report, the county chartered a 23 member facility steering committee to gain further citizen input and evaluate the W.E.Group report. Over 90 citiz2n, government and business representatives worked from May of 1994 to April of 1995 reviewing facilities options and issues. The square footage needs were downgraded to 109,360 nsf by the committee using an annual growth rate of less than 1%/yr. During the course of these studies, (1993-1995) several options for the downtown campus facility needs were studied. They include: 1. Purchase the Equitable Building 2. Construct a new public office building 3. Renovation of the Senator Office Buildings 4. Lease additional office space, as needed, in the downtown core 5. Build a new justice (criminal wurts) building to replace the courthouse The facility steering committee concluded that the purchase of the Equitable Building or the construction of a new public service building best met the facility needs of the county in the downtown core. They also recommended the county assess the cost and value associated with purchase of We Equitable Building before proceeding with the development of a new building. The cost associated with purchase and renovation of the Equitable Bldg. was estimated at $11.6 million. Tlus purchase would have provided the county witli 114,000 nsf, including the ground floor retail, and 147 on-site parking spaces. Concerns were expressed by W.E. Group that e~ctensive seismic and ADA upgrades would be required.