City OKs former jail’s demolition

WASHINGTON — City officials have signed off on the demolition of a former jail building in Washington, following a vote of approval from members of its Historical Preservation Commission last week. The green light given Tuesday night is among the last steps to remove the building, after the county-owned parcel was cleared for demolition by Washington County Supervisors late last year.

Members of the commission said they were surprised to learn the building was on historic registers in the first place, where it was listed as part of the city’s downtown historical district thanks to its proximity to the square.

“I never thought that was of any historic value,” Commission Member Fred Stark said. “That particular building is almost an eyesore, if I may say so. That’s my view.”

Documents in the historical register say the lot was used for a sheriff’s residence with an attached jail as early as 1885. By the ‘60s, that building stopped passing inspections, leading to its replacement by the now-familiar brick structure. More recently, the east-side shed and communications equipment were installed on the outside, for its use as a safety center. While it is still owned by the county, the building is no longer in use.

In a written memo to commission members, RE/MAX Affiliates Broker Associate Connie Larsen said the now-abandoned office had seen better days.

That report highlighted “visible black matter” and roof issues, putting the lot’s value around $50-$60,000, minus the cost of an estimated $30-$45,000 demolition.

“Any time a building sits empty without services and maintenance, issues like these happen,” Larsen wrote. “The communications/jail building is past its best use, as the floor plan is poor and very cut up for today’s standards … the current building is more of a liability.”

At this week’s regular meeting, Council Member Fran Stigers said it was time for the building to go. The group voted unanimously to approve demolition with little discussion.

“It’s just sitting there, and it’s not being used,” he said. “It’s just an empty building. We need to get rid of it and put something new there.”

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