What to do with Aging Fort Lauderdale Courthouse?Fort Lauderdale, Florida - In Fort Lauderdale, Florida, plans are afoot to repair the aging section of the Broward County courthouse. The older portions of the main courthouse have a whole host of problems. The elevators are out of order, toxic mold has built up over the years, the plumbing leaks, and the electrical system is outdated and unable to reliably meet the needs of the courthouse.
In addition, a group of courthouse employees have filed a lawsuit, alleging that they have become ill from the toxic mold. Other employees live in fear of the asbestos they think may lurk in the building, and go so far as to wear face masks at their desks. Asbestos, like mold, can cause serious respiratory problems. Asbestos exposure is linked to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. Asbestosis, a chronic disease, affects the lining of the lungs, and can prove fatal in some cases.
On Tuesday, county commissioners voted to accept a special recommendation to replace the building with a 17-story tower. But this plan will cost hundreds of millions of dollars, and no one is sure how this project would be financed. It seems likely, however, that the majority of funding could be acquired by increases in property taxes. Construction on the new tower could begin in 2011. The main section of the courthouse would be left intact during construction, and then demolished once the work is complete.
"The building is literally falling apart around us," Chief Judge Victor Tobin said. "The courthouse has long outlived its usefulness."
"The cost of maintaining the current courthouse will be even a bigger financial burden to the county than building a new courthouse," said Commissioner Ilene Lieberman, who headed the task force.
