Courthouse Asphalt or Green Space: The Choice Is Yours?

[JeffreyS]

We could go with a stocade



Or we could go with a Gallows



Or a Jacksonville favorite surface parking

[Ocklawaha]

Obviously the architect spent WAY TOO MUCH TIME at some grand old train station, this building is missing it's true calling.

OCKLAWAHA

[Keith-N-Jax]

LOL you guys are too much. I like the grass street car design, but we know Jax.

[Fallen Buckeye]

To me the proposed greenspace looks like an afterthought lawn. Did anyone else notice that example greenspace ignores pedestrians coming from Monroe Street? If you're coming from Monroe either you cut across the lawn or go all the way around the sidewalk on the side to the front entryway. And I agree  that designing the space for active uses is definitely a better way to go.

[dougskiles]

Can't think of a funny caption because I think the picture speaks for itself...

[Ernest Street]

I cant get over my disgust of this monument of overspending.

Ill be waiting for the picture feature of all the mahogany paneling and brass courtrooms, offices and judge chambers..oh wait those are secret and above the law.. I forgot.
My prediction is they will compromise on 4 lanes.

[uptowngirl]

I agree Ernest! I bet practically nothing is being recycled from the old courthouse, I am guessing that is all the taxpayer's money in the dump picture '-)

That being said, greenspace, the building itself has done enough to make the entire area ugly, I only hope a good side effect of this monstrosity and homage to the 80's is some restoration of the few remaining buildings and unique new construction for the vast sea of vacant lots and buildings around this place.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I agree Ernest! I bet practically nothing is being recycled from the old courthouse, I am guessing that is all the taxpayer's money in the dump picture '-)

That being said, greenspace, the building itself has done enough to make the entire area ugly, I only hope a good side effect of this monstrosity and homage to the 80's is some restoration of the few remaining buildings and unique new construction for the vast sea of vacant lots and buildings around this place.

It costs more to re-use/recycle/refurbish than it does to provide new.   

[tufsu1]

more accurately, not always true

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

then since the originaal statement was a broad absolute, it is untrue.

Replacement value of the materials is generally never cheaper than reusing.

You can make a replica of the English crown for a lot less money if you use brass and glass jewels, but its not the same thing.

We're not talking about one-of-a-kind royal crowns. 

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I'll bite - what part of the courthouse do you think we can re-use cheaper than bring in new?

[uptowngirl]

Chairs, desks, file cabinets, shelving lights, tables, signs, perhaps even bathroom fixtures such as doors sinks paper towel holders etc.  Ever price any of this stuff?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

Maybe once or twice.

Don't you think that the actual 'office' people who work there will be bringing some of that stuff over - mostly the file cabs and chairs.  The other stuff will be recycled, just not into the new courthouse - it will go to discount office supply chains, goodwill, etc...

But the actual cost of removing a door, storing a door, refinishing a door and re-installing a door is a lot more than just buying a new one.  What about the frame the old door was in?  What about the door hardware?

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

This is honestly the first time ive ever heard the quarrying, cutting, transporting, and polishing marble was cheaper than simply removing from one building and installing in the next.  Who knew?

Lets see.....  You have to pay a professional to un-install the marble, let's hope he doesn't break any of it, because we're going to have a really difficult time matching it.  We're going to have to store that marble somewhere until it's time to be re-installed.  Oh yeah, the chipping and pitting that occurred over the last decade, we're going to need to polish that out.  By the way, the new dimensions aren't quite the same as the old ones.  We're going to have to re-shape the marble anyhow.  Welp, I guess it's time to install, suppose I have to pay someone to do that to. 

Stephen you just paid about 4x what you would have to just have picked a color and installed new marble, but hey, who knew.

[uptowngirl]

I did not realize they needed new chairs and stuff who would of thought???!! I also did not realize the old courthouse was already rented/sold/resused that is awesome news and I guess would account for needing storage space. Who knew? And I am pretty sure any new marble or doors would not need to be cut to size, polished/stained whatever... it TOTALLY makes sense to buy all new, as we know NEW is always better because craftsman ship and product has only improved. For instance I know LOTS of investors that have taken out all the old ugly tigerwood in old houses and sent it to the dump, so what you can't get tigerwood anymore, or whole tree 20 ft oak beams they are overrated!!!