Monroe County commissioners recently gained insight into what to do with the old jail and the former Assessor’s Office in Stroudsburg near Courthouse Square.

Michelle Brummer, a senior planner at Gannett Flemming Inc. in Camp Hill, and Steven Knaub Jr., an architectural practice manager at the company, gave an Adaptive Reuse Study presentation at the commissioners’ meeting on Dec. 4. They presented three scenarios for the commissioners to consider.

Brummer explained that they had toured the buildings in January, looked at the interior and exterior, ran public surveys, and talked to people attending the farmers market in Courthouse Square. Their goal was to come up with options that would be compatible to the surrounding area, as well as feasibility, ownership-use scenarios, and needed improvements.

In all three scenarios, Brummer and Knaub recommended selling the former Assessor’s Office, and keeping the old jail. Options for the old jail was broken down into the three scenarios.

In Scenario A, the old jail could be turned into a county-owned museum and tourist attraction. Brummer said its unique architecture, local stories and association with local historical figures could help with marketing it for tourism and possibly offer it as a center for events. She suggested using the Old Carbon County Jail Museum in Jim Thorpe and the Eastern State Penitentiary museum in Philadelphia for ideas on marketing and offerings.

Brummer said she thinks the county would need to consult with a museum curator for guidance on developing a program. She estimates the total cost of the project would be $208,000. Of that total, $41,000 would be needed for basic building stabilization; and $167,000 for development of the museum, artifact acquisition, repairs, etc. She anticipates the time frame for the project would be two to three years.

Scenario B would turn the old jail into a publicly owned incubator for businesses and a marketplace. It would provide an opportunity for small businesses to grow. Brummer said ownership of the building could remain in the county hands or be sold to another public entity or a management company. It could also be a location for coworking space for people who have hybrid work schedules, such as those who work in New York City or Philadelphia but don’t want to work from home. She said they would need to consult with a management company to determine how it can meet those needs.

Brummer estimates the total cost to be $1,087,000. This would include the $41,000 for basic building stabilization of the old jail; $40,000 for market analysis, and $1,006,000 for building redevelopment. The time frame would be three to six years.

Scenario C is a hybrid museum with rentable flex space. Brummer suggested using the cell block as the museum, and possibly subletting other parts of it. The estimated total cost would be $135,000 with $41,000 for basic building stabilization; $30,000 for market analysis; and $264,000 for building repairs and renovations to the front only. The time frame would be three to six years.

Knaub said that renovations would need to include making the buildings compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

“These buildings were not built with accessibility in mind; they predate accessibility,” he said. “They have potential to be serviceable.”

Knaub said that both buildings are “in good condition and serviceable under typical occupancy.” The buildings were constructed by the county in the mid-1800s.

Brummer said that access to unique buildings, particularly the old jail, continues to be a curiosity for the public.

“That interest is ‘Wow, it’s old; what happened in there; I’d love to see the inside.’ ” she said. “Stories are important but sometimes the building is particularly important as well.”

Brummer and Knaub gave three recommendations, regardless of the use, that the commissioners should pursue. They are:

• Nominate the Courthouse Square District to the National Register of Historic Places.

• Subdivide the lot into two lots and sell the Assessor’s Office for reuse per borough zoning.

• Stabilize and improve accessibility to the old jail. Replace the roof, which has been budgeted, and protect the building from degradation.

John Christy, the chairman of the commissioners, said in an interview: “At this time, the county is taking the steps to insure the integrity of the Old Jail, regarding a new roof. The county is still using both structures for storage of records that either we have to keep in perpetuity or need to be scanned. As we remove the materials that can be removed from the buildings, we will be on the lookout for any additional funding that would help us preserve the buildings for a more usable purpose. The county has no plans of selling any of the structures at this time.”