Early reports from engineers tasked with assessing Lexington’s old courthouse building could result in new fencing around the building.
The old Fayette County Courthouse has been shuttered since 2012, but structural engineers say additional measures may be needed to ensure pedestrian safety. While many of the aging building’s flaws were already well-known, a recent report revealed worries about four balconies that are starting to come away from the nearly 115-year-old structure.
The city’s director of facilities and fleet management, Jamshid Baradaran, says the early findings by BFMJ warrant added caution.
"We are working with structural engineers trying to identify how far away we want to put up some fencing to keep the general public away from the building. Just anticipating if something ever happens, we want to make sure we've done due diligence," he notes.
The inspectors with BFMJ have recommended cordoning off the side of the building facing Short Street and installing nets around the balconies. Water damage is believed to have contributed to the deterioration of steel beams in the basement and the area supporting the balconies.
The Urban County Council has allotted $300,000 to study and secure the courthouse in the near term, but officials are still examining long-term options for the four-story building. The courthouse had housed three museums before it closed and is located next to the Fifth Third Bank Pavilion, which hosts the Farmer’s Market on Saturdays.
