Law school might move to former Covington jail

Where prisoners once did time, law students might earn degrees.

Northern Kentucky University and Kenton County are considering moving the Chase College of Law into the 10-story Kenton County administration building and former jail at the foot of the Roebling Suspension Bridge in Covington.

If this comes to fruition, it will move more than 400 law students and more than 40 faculty from NKU's campus to Covington's riverfront.

"This has been talked about for a long time," said Covington City Commissioner Steve Frank. "I'm very excited. I think it will attract more businesses that cater to the (law school students). I think education and access to education downtown is one of the things we tried to promote."

Leaders have debated the fate of the Kenton County administration building since the jail moved out to a new facility in the southern end of Covington in 2010. It's 40 percent vacant, but still houses offices for the Kenton County administration, clerk, sheriff and Commonwealth's attorney.

Kenton County will commission a feasibility study over the next three to four months that will determine the cost of renovating and preparing the building on moving the college into the administration building.

Leaders at Northern Kentucky University and Kenton County Judge-executive Kris Knochelmann both seem to favor the move.

The county administration building, built in the 1960s, needs an update, he said. Historic preservationists have criticized the austere, postmodern design as clashing with the surrounding structures.

The building, however, remains in sound shape and won't likely be torn down, Knochelmann said.

It still has 45-year-old elevators and a 45-year-old heating and air conditioning system. Bringing Chase College of Law into the building would result in updating the entire building, including the facade.

"No matter what the final use is, if we stay in this building or not, we want to make it more appealing than it is today," Knochelmann said. "It's not the ugliest building in the world, but it's not exactly what everyone would want."

Chase would take up most of the building, meaning the county offices would move out. Kenton County and the city of Covington are considering moving into a joint government center that would be built in the heart of town in a $65 million mixed-use development known as Duveneck Place.

But the move is still far from a done deal. The Kenton County Fiscal Court would still have to approve it. NKU spokesman Chris Cole said it's "too early to speculate" whether the move will happen. The county approached the university about the possibility, and the proposal received a warm reception, Cole said. Many at the university see it as a positive.

"If this were to happen, it's a win-win situation," Cole said. "Our programs would benefit by being in an urban setting of Covington. You've got a swirl of economic development and revitalization. It's a benefit for our programs as well as Covington and the county."