FARMINGTON — Owners of Church Street Commons have offered Franklin County commissioners space to rent as the county tries to solve its safety and security problems.

The Commons is across from the county courthouse in the former Knowlton-McCleary building on Church Street. It houses the Greater Franklin Development Corp. and the Ski Museum of Maine, among other entities.

A county Building Committee has been reviewing options for a new public safety building and do away with offices in the courthouse basement. The most recent option was to build a $5.5 million county complex on County Way where the Sheriff’s Department and jail are situated. However, the Downtown Business Association opposed the idea of moving all county offices away from the downtown.

Stephen Braconi and Joseph Carlson of Massachusetts met with commissioners Tuesday to discuss the space they have available at the Commons. They said they invested about $500,000 in renovations. The ground level and first floor are handicap accessible, Braconi told commissioners.

There is about 10,000 square feet in the building with 8,000 of it rental space, Braconi said. Of that, there is about 5,000 square feet available, he said.

A proposal submitted to commissioners notes 2,000 to 4,000 square feet are available.

Noel Smith of Smith Reuter Lull Architects and a consultant for the firm, John Cleveland, were on hand to listen to the presentation and review the space. They have been working with the county to develop an economically feasible plan.

dperry@sunjournal.com

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