The empty shell of the former Smartway Furniture on Gordon Highway has moved to the top of the list of properties being considered for a new Richmond County Sheriff's Office.

Engineers are assessing the cost to buy and renovate the 4.34- acre property in the Southgate Shopping Center, according to Richmond County Sheriff Ronnie Strength. The property is listed as being worth just more than $792,000, according to county tax records.

"They are looking at the structure and of course, if it comes back positive, and the price is in line with what the commission thinks it should be, we will seriously look at it," Sheriff Strength said.

The Richmond County Jail at 401 Walton Way has been plagued with leaks, mold and other problems since it opened in 1985. Several months ago, a leaky pipe flooded some downstairs offices and the entrance, an all-too-frequent occurrence.

The sheriff said adequate parking for employees and visitors has been a consistent challenge in the search for a new building to house the department's administrative, investigative, records, civil and narcotics divisions. His department needs about 150 parking spaces for employees and even more for visitors.

City Administrator Fred Russell said the south Augusta property is one of two under review. A downtown location, which he would not name, is also being considered.

"We are still trying to do our due diligence on the property itself," said Mr. Russell, referring to the Gordon Highway site. "I have not begun a negotiation of cost whatsoever."

Sheriff Strength said that a four-acre property on 12th Street was examined along with ones on Ninth and Telfair streets, Seventh and Greene streets, the Hatcher Building at Fifth and Greene streets, and a property in the 1100 block of Walton Way.

This week's announcement of an $8.6 million county budget deficient would not affect plans for the center because the $9 million allotted for a new sheriff's building comes from SPLOST funds set aside for the project, Mr. Russell said.

"That's a different pot of money altogether," he said.