Officials lock-up plans for jail expansion

The Lake County Board of County Commissioners and the Lake County Sheriff’s Office collaborated to devise a plan to alleviate overcrowding at the Lake County Jail, located at 551 W. Main St., Tavares.

The existing 960-bed facility is currently housing about 1,100 inmates, according Sheriff Chris Daniels. To remedy the situation, the Board agreed to renovate the medical unit and kitchen facility and add a separate juvenile detention area at the current jail site while exploring options to construct a satellite location in South Lake.

The proposed concept plan for a secondary location, as presented by HLM Design, included about 750 beds with the ability to increase capacity to more than 1,000 beds. Before the design phase can begin, officials must find land for the proposed facility. It is estimated at least 40 acres will be required.

A host of departments and divisions are slated to move offices by the end of the year to accommodate the need for additional office space. Earlier this month the Department of Community Services relocated its operations to 1300 S. Duncan Drive (State Road 19). The Department of Growth Management, Code Enforcement Division, is scheduled to move by the end of the month from the Lake County Administration Building, 315 W. Main St., into one the facilities Community Services vacated at 904 N. Sinclair Ave. To allow for the move, Code Enforcement is scheduled to be closed Thursday, July 27, Friday, July 28, and Monday, July 31. The new phone number for Code Enforcement is 343-9064.

Previous Editions of the Building Bulletin

• June 2006

With more than an estimated $150 million of vertical construction proposed for downtown Tavares, the centerpiece of the Lake County Government campus will continue to be the most historic building.

From stately columns to the splendid limestone arcane, the majestic features of the Lake County Historical Courthouse is the visionary platform for the recently approved schematic designs for the Lake County Judicial Center expansion and the new office building for the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector offices. According to Richard LeBlanc, Staff Architect for the Lake County Department of Facilities Development and Management, the historical courthouse embodies the desired civic features, which project “the image of justice and a sense of permanency.”

In 1922, Lake County floated a $250,000 bond issue to build the courthouse. Completed two years later, the courthouse was the fourth building for Lake County court services. For those keeping track, the judicial center expansion will be the seventh courthouse constructed.

In 1964, the County erected a modern façade to “update” the historical courthouse. The façade was torn down in 1996 and the building was restored to its former glory with assistance of a state grant. The renovated building opened on Nov. 11, 1997, and currently houses the Lake County Historical Museum, Tax Collector’s office, Property Appraiser’s office, Lake County Historical Society, Lake County Office of Information Technology and Geographic Information Systems Division.

The long awaited project of revamping the Lake County Judicial Center passed its first test on July 11 when the Board of County Commissioners approved the schematic design for the seven-story, 306,000-square-foot addition.

Featuring 18 courtrooms, the expansion project is expected to provide ample office space for court services for the next 20 years. This new facility will also improve the circulation corridors that separate jail inmates, the public, staff, and courtroom officials, including judges and jurors.

The new addition will connect with the existing facility by way of a covered walkway. The two buildings will form an “L” shape with the new facility facing Main Street. Along the corridor of downtown Tavares, the new building features a pavilion entrance and courtyard, which acts as an extension of the streetscape improvements being made by the city.

According to the staff from the contracted architectural firm, HLM Design, the schematic design for the expansion project is a reinterpretation of the Lake County Historical Courthouse. With an articulated base, columns and a similar color palette, the proposed building mirrors the strong features of the former courthouse located across Main Street.

The project now transitions from a concept to the design development stage. County staff, the architectural firm, the City of Tavares and Lake County Government will pour over detailed floor plans as the project develops.

There are more than a dozen different projects underway for the Lake County Department of Facilities Development and Management. Here are five developments for this month:

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1. Parking Garage - Board approves schematic design
   
   
2. Judicial Center expansion - Board approves schematic design
   
   
3. Jail expansion - Board approves renovations for existing facility and directs staff to find property for an additional facility
   
   
4. Constitutional offices - Board approves schematic design
   
   
5. Agricultural Center - A ribbon-cutting ceremony is tentatively scheduled for Aug. 18