Daviess County Fiscal Court approved a motion Thursday to move forward with the purchase of downtown Owensboro’s RiverPark Eyecare, located at 221 Allen Street. County commissioners said the property purchase would create some much-needed additional space for those who work at the judicial center.
Judge-Executive Al Mattingly said he had a discussion with County Attorney Claud Porter about the need for more space at the Morton J. Holbrook Judicial Center, and that the location of RiverPark Eyecare was ideal for growth.
Located at the corner of Allen and Third streets, RiverPark Eyecare announced in August they would be relocating to New Hartford Road to acquire more space. The eyecare center has operated out of their current space since 2005.
Mattingly said Fiscal Court made an offer for the 4,500-square foot property and that those at the eyecare center presented a reasonable counteroffer.
Money for the purchase of RiverPark Eyecare won’t be borrowed, but paid in full cash value at closing, Mattingly added. Porter said the property is estimated to sell for $650,000.
“We have come to terms with having the option to purchase it,” Mattingly said. “They anticipate vacating before the first of June. We will not pay for it until we take possession and they give us a fee.”
The additional 15 parking spaces that come with the purchase of the eyecare center makes it even harder to pass up, Mattingly added.
Meanwhile, Porter said the space could be used for a number of different entities, including a new commonwealth’s attorney’s office, a Real ID center, adult Drug Court, child support services or domestic violence cases.
“We will be able to get some rental [payments] out of it, particularly if we put the Real ID center there and relocate the Real ID license department,” Mattingly said.
Wathen said the purchase of RiverPark Eyecare was a good move for Fiscal Court based on two important reasons.
“It’s needed because of all the different things we have going on at the judicial center and, secondly, it’s right in the middle of all that activity, so it works pretty well,” Wathen said.
