A building that was supposed to be remodeled to become a transportation hub for CHQ Transit in Jamestown has been demolished due to its poor condition.

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. It purchased the former gas station in 2020 for $158,000, using state funds.

The remodeling project was expected to cost $500,000.

However in January, the legislature was told the remodeling was going to be $820,000. Of that amount, $605,000 was coming from a state grant, $100,000 would come from the county’s American Rescue Plan Act funds which it received from the federal government following the COVID-19 pandemic, and then the county’s capital reserve funds would cover the remaining balance.

During the legislature’s Public Facilities meeting this week, Public Facilities Director Tim Card noted the building was in much worse condition than originally thought. “As we got into the building and got the steel and everything off the building, we found that it wasn’t in the shape that we anticipated,” he said.

The county purchased the building before Card was appointed to his position.

Card said they brought in some engineers and other contractors, studied the building, and decided it wasn’t worth the cost of remodeling. Because of that, the county decided to tear the building down. “I couldn’t, rightfully so, put taxpayer dollars into that building to fix it,” he said.

Card said after the building was torn down, he was approached by Geer-Dunn Co., and asked if the county would like to buy their building at 309 Prendergast Ave., which is directly behind 215 E. Third St.

Card said that building is much larger than they need, however he said the county is exploring the option. If the county does buy it, it could relocate some unspecified departments there as well.

The Geer-Dunn building is 7,200 square feet and the CHQ Transit Hub only needed 1,000 square feet.

If the county does buy the Geer-Dunn building, the spot where the former building at 215 E. Third St. stood would remain open and become a parking lot.

If the county doesn’t buy the Geer-Dunn building, Card said they will look into constructing a new building at 215 E. Third St., but he is worried about the price tag, saying it would “probably going to be considerably more.”

No final decisions have been made.