Ceremonial groundbreaking on Wednesday
GOSHEN – Renovations have begun on the 1841 Courthouse and Orange County Board of Elections offices in Goshen.
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said the renovations have been needed for some time due to the deteriorating condition of the buildings but he sees the project as a step forward for 2015.
“These are buildings that have sat here for years in Orange County, in downtown Goshen; literally, pieces of it [the courthouse] were falling apart that we’re addressing”, said Neuhaus. “What I think you see here, right now, is a brand new year. You see a new month, January 2015 and you see forward projects actually happening.”
The county has borrowed approximately $11 million for the project which includes the demolition of the current Board of Elections and legal aid buildings, constructing a new central location for both offices, renovations on the 1841 Courthouse and asbestos removal from the courthouse. Also, the Information Technology Department has moved to the Orange County Emergency Services building to make room for the new Board of Elections Location.
Neuhaus predicts that not all $11 million that was bonded will be needed for the project and estimates the total cost to be around $9 million but, said there is no way to know for sure until renovations begin.
The lead contractor for the project is Key Construction and project labor agreements have been made for both sites ensuring they will employ local labor. The work is due to be finished sometime in 2016.
