Lease signed for Family Justice Center

Idaho Business Review
1/12/2006

Ada County commissioners have agreed to a one-year lease on a Downtown Boise building to house the Ada County Family Justice Center.

The commissioners -- Rick Yzaguirre, Fred Tilman and Judy Peavey-Derr -- toured the building Wednesday and took some ceremonial sledgehammer swings with U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo, who helped secure a $1 million U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant for the project.

The center will house a variety of services needed by victims of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual abuse. The center will offer medical, counseling, legal and other resources for victims.

"This will be a safe, one-stop facility unique to Idaho to offer the quickest response, treatment, counseling, prosecution and other services relating to domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault," commission Chairman Yzaguirre said.

The county will lease the building at 6th and Myrtle streets, the site of the former Child Development Center, from development firm Oaas Laney LLC for about $374,000 a year, said Ted Argyle, chief civil attorney for Ada County. The county is slated to move into the building June 1 after renovations are finished. Oaas Laney will contribute $1 million to the renovation effort, he said.

The county has an option to purchase the building after March 2007 for the appraised value at that time, Argyle said.

The county will operate the center and will spend $600,000 on renovations, though that money may be reimbursed by the federal grant, Argyle said.

Local prosecuting and law enforcement agencies, Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, St. Luke´s and Saint Alphonsus regional medical centers, victim advocacy groups and victim-witness coordinators are partners in the project.

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