It was a David and Goliath sized battle between an Omaha architect and the Douglas County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday.
In this story though, Goliath won against David as the Commission voted 6-1 to move ahead with the eminent domain takeover of a nearly 100 year old building downtown. Architect Bob Perrin had been attempting to save a 98 year old building at 18th and Howard from demolition.
Douglas County wants to tear down the building to clear out space for the new $120 million juvenile justice center.
The Omaha architect has worked before to restore old buildings, and when he bought this parcel in 2013, he planned to turn it into a mixed use building with residential and commercial space. In the first phase of its life, the building served as a number of auto dealerships before becoming a research facility for the Corps of Engineers in 1948.
Perrin said the building at 420 Howard Street was originally built for dealerships selling and servicing cars. Oldsmobiles, Fords and Hudsons all parked in the building until 1948 when the War Department purchased it. The Corps used the building as a research facility until 2010.
During Tuesday's meeting, Perrin spoke of the original tile floor and crown molding that remain intact in the building. Speaking passionately from the podium, Perrin urged the Board of Commissioners to save the building so it could be preserved for future generations.
Douglas County made Perrin a $900,000 offer for the building, but he turned them down, prompting them to send a eminent domain letter. last month to buy it for $900,000. The use of eminent domain means the county will take the building by paying compensation to Perrin, regardless of his wishes.
Although some board members agreed that losing such a historic building was regrettable, it would be in the public's best interest to build this much needed justice center. Many board members pointing out that they are running out of room in the county courthouse, with some prosecutors making makeshift offices in the halls.
The new justice center is slated to be built on the site where Perrin's building sits, along with the building that currently houses the Omaha Housing Authority and a third building the county already owns.