Chautauqua County plans on building a 900-square foot building at this location, 215 E. Third St., Jamestown, for a CHQ Transit Hub.

Chautauqua County officials are planning on constructing a new building in Jamestown to serve as the new hub for CHQ Transit.

Public Facilities Director Tim Card and County Executive PJ Wendel spoke at the county legislature’s Administrative Services Committee this week, where Card made his recommendation to build a new facility instead of buying another building and remodeling it.

CHQ Transit, previously known as the Chautauqua Area Rural Transit System or CARTS, has been operating out of 215 E. Third St. since 2018, initially renting the location. Chautauqua County purchased the former gas station in 2020 for $158,000, using state funds.

The county had planned on remodeling the building, but after investigating it over the summer, officials decided to instead tear it down, saying it was in too poor condition.

Last month, Card told the committee that he was exploring purchasing the Gear-Dunn building at 309 Prendergast Avenue, which is directly behind 215 E. Third St. The price tag was $380,000. That building is much larger than the county needs for its CHQ Transit Hub.

Card said the county thought about buying it and relocating some other departments there.

Instead, they decided against this option.

“Without knowing what we’re going to build that building out to, we don’t know that cost, and that cost could be very expensive,” Card said.

In addition, the building has a slope which didn’t affect Gear-Dunn, however, the county would be required to put in a ramp and make it ADA-compliant.

Another option Card mentioned in September was the possibility of purchasing the pawn shop building that is attached to the former Taco Hut Restaurant.

Card said at the meeting Tuesday that it would cost the county $185,000 to buy it and then another $200,000 to $250,000 to remodel it, which he felt was not worth it. The building is also assessed considerably less than what the owners want to sell it for.

To construct their own building, Card said a 900-square foot building will cost roughly $457,000. He added that he thinks he could lower that price by doing some of the work using county employees.

It would have a waiting room for the riders, and private bathrooms and a breakroom for drivers.

Card said he has the money in his budget and would like to start work beginning in the spring.

Wendel noted that this decision is not only best for the county but also for the city of Jamestown. He said if the county bought either the former Gear-Dunn building or the pawn shop, those buildings would be tax exempt and come off the tax rolls.

He also said there’s an unnamed investor interested in the Gear-Dunn building. “I’m not going to stop anybody from investing in that building downtown,” he said.

Wendel said he’s looking forward to getting this project completed.

“It’s unfortunate that it’s taken this long and it’s very frustrating,” he said.

Legislator Bob Scudder, R-Fredonia, expressed his support for this decision.

“We went into this wanting a CARTS hub. We didn’t go into this, with all due respect to everyone else, to buy another building with the potential of putting offices in, or renting it out, or whatever. I think that . becomes a little bit of a dangerous area,” he said.

Legislator Tom Nelson, D-Jamestown, agreed.

“This is exactly what I would like to see. I think it’s a very positive step forward. I had second thoughts about the other two locations. I think it will be nice. I know it’s taken a long time but I think we’re getting it right,” he said.

Because the county has used some state Department of Transportation funding, Wendel said he checked with the state and they have no objections for the county to construct a new building.