For centuries people have been singing about London Bridge coming down – however, there are likely to be no songs written about the old county building that’s set to come down in early 2023: the Old Guilford County Jail in downtown Greensboro.
When the giant, shiny new Guilford County Jail in Greensboro opened in 2012, county officials began planning to demolish the old jail, but it has had nine lives until now, when its storied history is about to come to an end.
About eight years ago, the county was planning to demolish the jail, however former Sheriff BJ Barnes instead put the building to use housing some Sheriff’s Department administrative offices and public-facing services.
When Guilford County officials first began discussing tearing down the old jail, the ballpark cost estimates came in at about $900,000 to $1 million. It turns out that, in 2023 – at a time when some cartons of eggs at Harris Teeter cost $9 – jail demolition costs are much higher too.
On Thursday, Dec. 15, Guilford County Facilities and Property Management Director Eric Hilton did not offer an estimate of the project cost, but he did say it would cost a whole lot more than $1 million. According to Hilton, when it comes to the construction and destruction of buildings these days, the costs bears no resemblance whatsoever to what they were five or 10 years ago.
Hilton said that the demolition and clearance of the land would make room for the Guilford County Sheriff’s Department’s new administrative offices – a project that Sheriff Danny Rogers has been pushing hard for years. However, until now, other county projects have pushed the new headquarters aside.
The Sheriff’s Department’s current headquarters is disintegrating after years of problems over the years such as flooding, wood rot, sloping floors, rodent and snake infestation and – some even claim – a problem with ghosts haunting the place. The Otto Zenke building will be torn down to make room for a new parking lot to serve the new headquarters.
Why not keep the building and put the homeless in it!
Couple points:
It seems to me that if govt would maintain their buildings, they would last a long time. My house was well-built in 1971. It’s in great shape, but it always needs something. Why would I tear it down and rebuild?
Second, $9 (is that for 4 dozen?) for a carton of huevos es mucho dinero. In my personal experience, Taj-Ma-Teeter is not known to have competitive prices. I can’t price all their stuff, but I can about what I buy. So, they are pretty much my last choice. In my opinion, and I may be wrong, anyone who shops there is a spendthrift.
Speaking of prices, I paid a recent visit to my Urologist to, uh…….fix something. I was hustled in PDQ, and saw the doc for 5-10 minutes, and then outta there. Today the bill came in……..$350.00. O-U-C-H! Is it because they have a local monopoly? I have good insurance, but how do they get away with deducting what was not paid as a tax loss? What does anyone without insurance, or poor insurance, do? Frankly, I think the medical system is broken. I know some employees in the field – they are pushed around like rabbits.
I feel better now. Have a good weekend.
Mr. Miller, you hath forgotten about MWBE which taints the bid process and City/County regulations/fees/licenses/qualifications, et al, which affect the cost and duration of said project. This is why they end up purchasing everything from HT and don’t keep up their buildings, as the bid process is never-ending because no bid is ever approved and nothing is ever repaired. Perhaps the new MWBE MWBE person (don’t want to assume pronouns) will fix this but being from Charlotte I’m not holding my (she/her) breath.
Oh, I forget everything.
People without insurance recover on their own, go bankrupt, or die. I wish it weren’t that way, but so far we don’t have a better option unless you can get up to Canada.
You been to Canada? They are almost as bad as NHS.
Speaking of Canada, I recently read that in the wake of the May shootings in Texas, that the PM of Canada has decreed that it is now illegal sell, buy, or transfer (give) a handgun. Not only just automatics, but also revolvers. I guess if you already have one, you can keep it – but how long would that last? As far as self-defense from aggression goes, a handgun is necessary. A rifle is un-wieldy in many applications. Are rifles next? See: Australia.
Under PM Trudeau’s govt; police, RCMP, & military have been weaponized to restrict or eliminate freedom of speech, freedom of assembly, & freedom of religion. AND, the citizens of Canada have been brainwashed to such an extent to elect, and re-elect, this Child Prince.
Does any of this sound familiar? Is this the path of representative govt, where people continue electing politicians who promise to give them stuff? I guess these are rhetorical questions.
Snakes? What species of snake has infested that place other than a democrat?
What a load of bollocks.
It’s all crap, shiney new jail , yeah back in 2012. It’s about to be 2023. The new jail is filled with black mold where they have to move inmates around every few weeks just to keep scrubbing new black mold off the walls, ceilings and what not. Water leaks are a huge issue in the “new” jail along with a ton of new issues. Seems like Greensboro sinks money into stuff and does deals with contractors who do half fasted jobs.
To qualify for a palette house, will the tenants e required to earn their rent? It would help them learn job skills, beginning with tending their own gardens, preparing them to work on farms and not needed to support so many immigrants which is costing taxpayers a bundle.(this in no way
does not express sympathy for immigrants.) Many of those requiring free housing need first to learn about taking responsibility for one’s self.
Rather than taking a beneficial space from special-needs young people who are too young or unable to attain adult responsibility, look at other potential for these little houses. There is plenty of extra room at Hester Park, near transportation, next to the new incentive of affordable housing across the street. The Chair of the County Commissioners lives across the street and can follow progress of location.
‘learn job skills’ – ‘taking responsibility’ – u r living in a dream world, preaching only to a ‘choir’. howbout something useful – like, cog garbage service @ their encampments ? that would at least make it more sanitary for everyone. win – win.
The head of the commissioners can’t even keep up our school repairs. He just wants more of our money to waste it does not cost him anything just us poor seniors.
Good Idea, but it would have to have renovations that would cost just as much probably