However, a site that seems to have been ruled out by the feds may still be in play--the unfinished Intel Corp. building. If chosen as the new courthouse site, that would cure several downtown headaches, not the least of which is the skeleton of a half-finished building in the city's western skyline. That possibility, though, seems to be a long shot.

Neil Landers of the General Services Administration says the three finalists, on a list that remains fluid, are the block bordered by Second, Colorado, Third streets and Congress Avenue; the block bordered by Third, Guadalupe, Fourth and San Antonio streets; and the block bordered by Seventh, Trinity, Eighth and Neches streets.

The first site is the home of the Austin Children's Museum and the second is slated for the Austin Museum of Art. Officials of both museum's have expressed concern that their properties being considered. The third site includes a parking lot and has no development plans.