Fate of Downtown Centre still unclear; JCDA wants county to donate building

As Washington County leaders get ready to dedicate the county’s new courthouse in Jonesborough Friday, those leaders also prepare for the possible sale of one of the county’s old courthouses. The Downtown Centre in Johnson City, appraised at a little more than $2 million, could hit the market in the coming months, according to County Mayor George Jaynes.

“Right now, that’s basically the feelings of my commission is to sell the building,“ Jaynes said.

Still, commissioners have not voted on a decision just yet.

“There are no plans whatsoever about what we’re going to do with it,“ Jaynes said.

Before the county votes to sell the building, the Johnson City Development Authority hopes to convince leaders to give the building away to the organization.

“It’s really the centerpiece of downtown redevelopment,“ JCDA Executive Director Suzanne Kuehn said. “The parking is absolutely crucial, but getting the uses back here such as a movie theater and restaurants and offices and coffee shops will really bring an energy and synergy to the downtown redevelopment effort.“

Kuehn plans to present a proposal for the building at a Washington County-Owned Property Committee meeting later this month. The JCDA’s plan calls for a movie theater, 11 storefronts, one small deli or coffee shop, one large restaurant, and another restaurant or bar on the rooftop of the Downtown Centre. However, the plan hinges on the county donating the property.

For now, it appears group has a lot of convincing to do. Currently, the county is not in a giving mood.

“I haven’t heard anybody say anything about giving it to anybody,“ Jaynes said.

If that’s the case, that means the JCDA may need to come up with the money to buy the property. Although that is a possibility, the organization would prefer to take over the building for free, Kuehn said. Still, if that is not an option, Kuehn knows doing nothing could cost even more.

“It would be another scar on this wonderful downtown,“ Kuehn said.