TU Editorial: County Courthouse - A beginning, maybe?

[thelakelander]

A beginning, maybe

By The Times-Union

Construction will be under way on the courthouse by this time next year - but only if past is not prelude.

Much has changed since the voters approved a $190 million courthouse in 2000.

Or, more precisely, the price has changed much. The mayor now wants to spend up to $400 million.

And even that wouldn't be all new construction.

In addition to building a seven-floor structure at LaVilla - spiffy enough, one imagines, to suit even a chief judge - Mayor John Peyton wants to renovate the old federal courthouse and portions of the Ed Ball Building to accommodate the state attorney and public defender offices.

The advantages of this plan, over others, are that it frees up riverfront property, keeps all court functions in a single place and almost satisfies the chief judge, who wants another floor added for growth.

One disadvantage is that, according to City Hall, it would require $8 million a year in new debt payments.

That's a lot in a city where services have been cut and stiff fees are being imposed to pay existing bills.

Another disadvantage is that there may be political consequences at the next election if the City Council approves spending twice what the voters authorized.

Local attorney Jim Rinaman, who chairs the courthouse design review committee, says he thinks voters would understand.

One way to find out would be to put it on the ballot.

But the mayor has already ruled that out. Guess why?

There are potential political opportunities, as well.

Several council members reportedly want to be mayor. Candidates could take the position that nothing more than $190 million should be spent on the courthouse.

Then they could make "pampered judges" an issue in the next mayoral race.

Assuming Peyton sticks to his most recent plan and work progresses on schedule - neither a certainty, given the mayor's frequent changes of course - the new courthouse will be opened in the fall of 2011.

This project has languished far too long - and the mayor and council must share the blame.

Peyton has shown leadership - but in too many directions. The council has shown no leadership at all.

Therefore, it is appropriate for the council to take a hard look at the options.

Local architect Jack Diamond insists the Prime Osborn Convention Center could be turned into a courthouse for $200 million. That would leave the city needing a new convention center, however, so the net savings may be problematic.

In any case, it's time to get started on a new courthouse.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/010308/opi_230957953.shtml

[thelakelander]

I say, make the plans, elevations and cost estimates public and put it up for a vote.  If Charlotte can build a brand new county courthouse for half the cost of ours, then we should be able to construct a decent facility for well below $400 million.

As for Diamond's idea of turning the convention center into the courthouse, that's doesn't make much sense when you consider the convention center/transportation center issue.  Ultimately, the Prime Osborn is best suited as a transportation center, given its location and original use.  If we give up this idea of a traditional design with columns and all, we should be able to drop the price down to the level of what several of our peers have paid recently for their buildings.

[second_pancake]

I say, make the plans, elevations and cost estimates public and put it up for a vote.  If Charlotte can build a brand new county courthouse for half the cost of ours, then we should be able to construct a decent facility for well below $400 million.

As for Diamond's idea of turning the convention center into the courthouse, that's doesn't make much sense when you consider the convention center/transportation center issue.  Ultimately, the Prime Osborn is best suited as a transportation center, given its location and original use.  If we give up this idea of a traditional design with columns and all, we should be able to drop the price down to the level of what several of our peers have paid recently for their buildings.

Agreed 100%.  If for no other reason, I'd like to see a plan just to determine the cost per square foot and see how that compares to the cost of the average commercial construction project in our city and surrounding areas.  I know when it comes to government projects, the costs are always inflated, but I'd like to see just by how much.  Seriously, $400 million???  Are they building this thing entirely out of granite???