The state is expected to sell $6.5 million in bonds next week to pay, in part, for tearing down the old Georgia Archives Building, an event targeted for August.
The old archives down the street from the Capitol is on the site of what is expected to be one of the most expensive buildings in state government history, a new judicial complex.
The “White Ice Cube,” as the old archives building has been called, was built in 1965 on Capitol Avenue. About three decades after it opened, engineers determined that it was sinking due to groundwater and nearby interstate construction. Estimates to repair and refurbish the archives hit $40 million.
Instead of spending the money, a new archives facility was built near Clayton State University, and the old archives building has been used as a movie set on and off for years.
Governors have sought to tear down it down since the move. But lawmakers have been skeptical about spending money on the project.
This year they approved a state budget that included Gov. Nathan Deal's proposal to borrow $6.5 million for design and site preparation for the new judicial complex, which is projected to cost well over $100 million.
The Georgia Building Authority this week approved a resolution backing the sale of bonds for the project. GBA officials said the target is to select a contractor in July and bring the building down in August, but an exact date has not yet been set.
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