Pictured is the site of the former Ray Nelson gas station, which was to become the new transportation hub for CHQ Transit. The garage was demolished this week. PJ photo by Christopher Blakeslee
A building that was to be converted into a transportation hub for CHQ Transit in Jamestown was demolished due to its poor condition.
CHQ Transit, formerly known as Chautauqua Area Rural Transit System, or CARTS, has operated out of 215 E. Third St. since 2018, initially leasing the site. It purchased the former gas station in 2020 for $158,000 using state funds.
The cost of the renovation project was estimated at $500,000.
However, in January, the Legislature was told the cost of the remodel would be $820,000, of which $605,000 would come from a state grant, $100,000 would come from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds it received from the federal government following the COVID-19 pandemic, and the balance would be covered by the county’s capital reserves.
During Parliament’s public facilities session this week, Director of Public Services Tim Card noted that the building was in a much worse condition than originally thought. “When we went into the building and took the steel and everything else out of the building, we found that it was not in the condition we expected,” he said.
The county purchased the building before Card took office.
Card said they brought in some engineers and other contractors, examined the building and decided it wasn’t worth the cost of remodeling. Because of that, the county decided to demolish the building. “I couldn’t, and rightly so, put taxpayer money into that building to fix it,” he said.
Card said that after the building was demolished, he was approached by the Geer-Dunn Co. and asked if the county would like to purchase their building at 309 Prendergast Ave., just behind 215 E. Third St.
Card said the building is much larger than necessary, but the county is exploring that option. If the county purchases the building, it could also move some unspecified departments there.
The Geer-Dunn building is 665 square meters and the CHQ Transit Hub only required 93 square meters.
If the county purchases the Geer-Dunn building, the site where the former building stood at 215 E. Third St. would remain open and become a parking lot.
If the county does not purchase the Geer-Dunn building, Card said they will look to build a new building at 215 E. Third St., but he is concerned about the price because it will “probably be significantly higher.”
No final decisions have been made yet.
