JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Jacksonville's new courthouse is facing a new deadline some local leaders say it has zero chance of meeting.
While the building has been operating for months, it still doesn't meet certain building codes. Right now, the temporary certificate of occupancy expires on Monday.
The hallways of the new courthouse are still pristine months after opening. What you don't see is work still being done behind closed doors. The city council president says many of those doors still aren't up to code. "It's my understanding the doors are not aligned properly," said Bill Bishop. "The amount of pressure it takes to open certain ones is a problem."
It's a problem that makes the $350 million building not handicapped accessible. That means the building still only has a temporary certificate of occupancy. That was eventually issued in June after the building failed multiple fire safety tests. It was extended in August. In an October email, Action News was told by the mayor's spokesman, "The department of public works anticipates it will be the only extension needed."
Bishop says there's no way all the work to make the building handicapped accessible will be done by Monday. "Turner hasn't agreed to do the things that need to be done. Their position is it's not their responsibility. They're still arguing," said Bishop.
He maintains Turner was paid to build a compliant building and he's worried now this $350 million money pit will get even bigger. "The issue is what is the cost to fix it. I don't have that number," said Bishop. "There is no more money to spend on this."
We did send requests to both the city and Turner for comment on when this would all be done. Both replied back saying they're working on getting that information.
The city hired a local construction law group to start laying the groundwork for a potential lawsuit against Turner Construction. They were to be paid 60-thousand dollars over a two to three month period. No word yet on the outcome of their investigation.
