Future of Tipton’s historic jail in limbo
Since its construction in 1894, the building at
The building is only one of two structures in the entire county that's listed on the
Today, the jail is the last of its kind that's still being used in the entire state.
But that's about to change.
Construction on a new
For years, the current jail has failed inspections by the
"We are considered one of the worst-condition jails in the state," Mullins said.
The new jail is projected to be finished by the end of the year. Mullins said the facility will have room for up to 90 inmates and will be the first jail in the state to have four beds dedicated to inmates with mental health issues. The county hopes to move the sheriff's department and inmates into the facility by early 2020.
And then the question must be answered: What will the county do with the old jail?
That's a question the
The study found the building was in relatively good shape considering its age, and restoration could be done. But that restoration would come with a hefty price tag.
The study projected a full renovation could cost up to
The cost to simply demolish the structure rang up to
That includes an entire block of downtown buildings on
"It's been building after building after building," Curnutt-Howerton said. "We don't have many historic places left. They've all been turned into parking lots. We don't need anymore parking lots. We need historic buildings to remain, because once it's gone, it's gone forever."
The historical society and others are now working to convince county commissioners, who are in charge of the old jail, to save one of the last vestiges of the town's history.
And with the right kind of development, preserving the jail is totally possible, said
Burgess spoke to city and county officials Wednesday to offer options on how to preserve the old jail and avoid demolition.
The best thing going for the building, he said, is the fact it's listed on the
The biggest perk is the federal rehabilitation incentive tax credit, which offers a 20-percent, dollar-for-dollar, income tax credit on redevelopment costs. It's a credit that's only available for buildings on the
Another major incentive comes from a low-income tax credit, which knocks 20 percent off an investment that creates affordable housing. Burgess said a developer could tap into that credit if the jail were turned into senior housing, which is lacking in
He said there are good examples around the state of developers who take advantage of both tax credits to get 40 percent back on projects. For the
"That's enormous," Burgess said. "Not only does preserving a building of this nature make sense from a moral standpoint of preserving your community's history and taking responsibility for an important historic resource. It also makes smart economic sense."
"I'm disappointed in our county, because we don't seem to see the value in embracing our heritage," she said. "... People who have been to other countries and localities see how other people wrap their arms around 500-year-old buildings. We're talking about a place that's just over 100 years old. I think every effort needs to be made to preserve it."
But Commissioner Mullins said the price tag to renovate the structure has to be seriously considered. It's been five years since the last feasibility study was done at the jail. He said it's likely renovation costs have climbed to close to
Mullins said he's in favor of preserving the jail, but not if the cost to restore it is unreasonable.
"That's my preference, but I still have to make a practical decision in terms of economics," he said. "The biggest issue is simply cost. How much money is going to be available? What's maintenance going to cost? Can we find a private investor for the project? We've got all this to go through."
But the clock is ticking. Once the new jail opens next year, a decision will have to be made on what to do with the facility.
Mullins said he plans to put out a community survey to gauge public opinion on what do. But no matter what the commissioners decide, someone will be unhappy.
"I know people say they hear a lot of people want to preserve it," he said. "But I'm hearing both sides. No matter what we do, we're going to have a percent of the population that says we're stupid and doing the wrong thing."
Former commissioner Harper said she thinks demolishing the jail would be a big mistake. And once people have a chance to go inside for tours after the new facility opens, the public will agree, she said.
"As a community, we just have to accept that these are assets," Harper said. "... It's expensive, but sometimes you have to weigh the expense versus what you're getting for it. It is costly, I know. But it's our heritage. Can you put a price tag on that?"
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