The County and 11 Warren Street

It's been more than two years since we first got word of Columbia County's plan to purchase 11 Warren Street, the unsightly and out-of-character 1970s strip mall that never was, from the Galvan Foundation, to use as offices and for storing the voting machines. 

Needless to say, there was much outrage about the acquisition, which was withheld from the public until it was a fait accompli, and there is much interest in whatever plans exist for alterations to the exterior of the building. At some point in the past year, there was talk of Randall Martin, who was appointed First Ward Supervisor on January 3, 2025, arranging a meeting at which Ray Jurkowski, Commissioner of Public Works for the County, who seems to be in charge of 11 Warren Street project, would present plans for the building and get feedback from the community, but such a meeting never happened. It is hoped that in the coming year, when Alexandria Madero, who was a charter member of the 11 Warren Street Action Group, replaces Martin on the Columbia County Board of Supervisors, more information about the plans for 11 Warren Street will be forthcoming. 

In the meantime, the County has done some work on the site. Yesterday morning, workers from the Columbia County Department of Public Works removed this mature tree from the site.

Photo: Rachael Careau

One wonders what other plans the County has for this very prominent site on Warren Street.

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