MIDDLETOWN – Plans to remodel and expand the former federal courthouse in Middletown into a city courthouse have come in roughly 40 percent higher than the original estimate of $3 million.
The Office of Court Administration wants a second courtroom built on the old federal building, but Mayor Joseph DeStefano told the common council Tuesday night that if Albany insists on the remodeling and expansion, they should contribute to the newly estimated cost of almost $5 million.
“If the state wants this facility built, they are going to have to cough up a lot of the money in order to build it,” he said. “There are advantages to the city, of course, for doing this; one is our police department is full and over capacity. We have people in the basement and our plans were then to expand some city hall offices, but the majority of old court would be the police station.”
City court at present is being held in both the chambers adjacent to city hall with a second court held in the city council chambers.
A remodeled and expanded federal court building would see both courtrooms there.
