Judge-Executive talks grand plans for courthouse area, priorities heading into 2026

Recently, Christian Fiscal Court heard from a team of architects about a ‘master plan’ to renovate the historic Christian County Courthouse, and reshape the downtown area around it—and people have questions on what exactly that would cost and end up looking like.

Speaking with WHOP recently, Christian County Judge-Executive Jerry Gilliam says the courthouse has been needing some updates for a while, so when they an architect to consider what that might look like, they told them to come up to a plan to revitalize that area. And they said while they were dreaming, they might as well dream big.

Some of those proposals including the construction of a multi-story parking garage that would be level with the first floor of the courthouse, along an outdoor event venue and garden connected to the Chapel of Love, that folks could rent out for their weddings. The plan would also include additional ‘pocket parks’ in that area of downtown.

Right now, preliminary numbers are showing a tentative estimate of around $50 million for all their wants, but Judge Gilliam says the very large project would likely not happen all at once, as they look into grants and fundraising.

Judge Gilliam says those historic buildings all have accessibility problems that must be addressed, and that’s a priority for them heading into 2026. Also a top priority for his administration will be further developments at Commerce Park 2.

Thanks to approval at a recent Fiscal Court meeting, the Christian County Sheriff’s Department cane move forward to getting all deputies onto Hazardous Retirement plans, which would allow them to retire after 25 years of service. Judge Gilliam says while it comes with an extra cost to the county, it was simply the right thing to do.

If you’re interested in seeing full renderings for the plans downtown around the Alhambra Theatre and the Christian County Courthouse, they actually have them on display at the courthouse itself for public viewing.