Jeff Wereski with 310-322 East Third Ventures, LLC gives a presentation at the Chautauqua County Legislature’s Public Facilities Committee meeting.

Chautauqua County is looking to move several of its south county offices under one roof.

Later this month the county legislature will be voting on a resolution to lease about 54,000 square feet at 310-322 East 3rd St., Jamestown. That is the Lynn building, which is in the process of being sold to 310-322 East Third Ventures, LLC.

Offices that could end up moving there include the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services, and the Office of Probation. It’s possible more could go there in the future.

On Monday, the legislature’s Public Facilities Committee heard a presentation from Jeff Wereski and Joe Roosa with Roosa Development.

Roosa is the owner of the Department of Motor Vehicles building in Dunkirk, which used to be a movie rental building.

“Because of the relationship of the county and Joe Roosa, we were invited to help with what we called the three Cs – Chautauqua County Campus,” Wereski said.

Wereski said the building on East Third Street overall is 85,000 square feet and has two parking lots. Currently occupying space in the building is Infinity Visual & Performing Arts, and Striders.

There is also the Post Office next door.

Wereski said they don’t want to simply kick either Infinity or Striders out.

“We know that they’re part of this community. Joe and I have been looking at other facilities, other buildings in the area because if we have to relocate some of the tenants from this facility, we will. That’s our commitment. We don’t want to lose tenants,” he said.

Wereski said for what the county is looking for, he believes they won’t need to relocate either Striders or Infinity but they do recognize that those organizations, which work with children, may have concerns regarding the “different types of clients” that will be entering the building. “Safety is number one, so if Striders wants to relocate, we’re going to have the facilities to do that,” he said.

According to the resolution, Chautauqua County rents 57,665 square feet of office space in the South County Office Building for the county’s Departments of Mental Hygiene and Social Services, and Probation; 3,085 square feet of office space at 512 West Third St. for the DMV and 4,080 square feet of office space at 333 East Fifth St. in Jamestown, for the county’s Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services.

Those three leases are all up in 2027 and would move to this new location on East Third Street.

“This is a one-block move. It stays in the city core, which is what was asked of us by the legislators representing the city of Jamestown,” County Executive PJ Wendel said during the meeting. “When you look at the type of facility in the center core, which maintains, if not increases accessibility for our clients, this is what we’re looking at.”

He added there may be opportunities to move other offices there as well.

Over the years the county has discussed moving and/or consolidating its various offices in the Jamestown area.

A couple of years ago, the owners of the Chautauqua Mall in Lakewood pitched having the county move there. There seemed to be little interest from county leaders, especially those who represent Jamestown, of moving the various services outside city limits.

Wendel noted that when he first took office, there was a study done to reduce the county’s footprint at numerous buildings.

The county has made progress on this in the Dunkirk area, when they consolidated facilities in Franklin and Lucas avenues.

According to the resolution, the county would pay $23.50 per square foot per year, equaling approximately $105,750 per month for the first year, with annual 3 percent increases.

Wendel said this would be an increase of what the county is paying now.

Wereski said there are about 80 parking spots available, plus some additional parking that is owned by the city.

Both parking lots are in poor condition. Roosa said they would improve them, making them concrete parking lots.

Wereski said when the call center, also known as The Connection, had been there, the second floor was completely remodeled through a grant. Because of this, not a lot of remodeling will need to be done.

“When they left it, they left in fantastic condition,” he said.

Wendel agreed.

“It’s almost turnkey,” he said.

Any move would take place next year and the new location would have a 10-year lease.

The legislature’s Public Facilities Committee unanimously approved the resolution for the proposed lease, which allows the full legislature to vote on it next week.