FRANKFORT — The community got its first look Monday at revised architectural plans for the renovation of Frankfort's downtown courthouse that include Good Shepherd Catholic Church.

The $30 million project includes incorporating the Wapping Street church's sanctuary by converting it into two courtrooms. Historic preservationists had asked that the downtown Catholic Church be preserved in any potential renovation of the existing 1835 courthouse and its annex.

Franklin County has been working to get a new courthouse since 2006, but has run into several stumbling blocks.

Franklin County Judge-Executive Ted Collins, who heads the board overseeing the new courthouse project, said county officials and Good Shepherd church leaders met Monday to begin negotiations on the sale of the property. It's still not clear whether the county can purchase the mostly-vacant property.

Collins said the board is a long way from deciding whether it will choose to renovate the current courthouse or pick another site to build a new judicial center.