Duval County Courthouse Renderings

[tufsu1]

I'll hold my breath and wait for this city to build anything close to that in front of the courthouse.

keep in mind that Nashville went almost 50 years without that park....and their whole courthouse area was downright hideous until about 5 years ago!

[JeffreyS]

I hope they never build this. I want so many thing yesterday but I would like to see a new administration in office before any more decisions about the direction of the urban core are made.  Let the mayor keep the port deals from falling apart and leave as soon as possible.

[Matt]

ugh just build it

[Charles Hunter]

Should we take bets on how long it'll be before the space between the courthouse and Adams St. becomes a gated parking lot for the important people that work there?

I see your bet, and raise you - Monroe will not be a public street in front of the Court House.  Security reasons, you know.

[jeh1980]

About the city block bound by Adams, Pearl, Monroe, and Julia Streets, I predict that we may have either another parking garage, a small office building or a mixed use tower/complex with retail. Just wishful thinking.  Keep the faith! 

[copperfiend]

Should we take bets on how long it'll be before the space between the courthouse and Adams St. becomes a gated parking lot for the important people that work there?

Great point.

[DetroitInJAX]

Should we take bets on how long it'll be before the space between the courthouse and Adams St. becomes a gated parking lot for the important people that work there?

I see your bet, and raise you - Monroe will not be a public street in front of the Court House.  Security reasons, you know

I'll even go so far as to say that Monroe wont exist at all, it'll be a pedestrian promenade.

Maybe with a few of Mayor Peyton's signature downtown attractions. Hot Dog carts.

Round it out with a few benches that dont have armrests so the bums can lay flat and we're got one heck of a courthouse 'square'.

Someone please tell me Im dreaming.  What incompetence.

[jeh1980]

Uh...you're dreaming!

[Ocklawaha]

The place still looks like an explosion in a pillar factory.  Real authentic details...
Say, is are those sandstone pillafs really from Georgia?
All those floors? surely from Marble Colorado? 
Fixtures from Tiffany and Company?
Carpets from Persia?

No?

FAuX?

"That's Jacksonvlle",

SAD STORY.       

OCKLAWAHA                                                                            

[02roadking]

More news from the T/U online:

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2008-12-18/jacksonville_courthouse_deal_reached

Until there's a guarantee that the entire courthouse project can be completed without costing Jacksonville taxpayers more than $350 million, work on the main building won't begin.

That is the deal agreed upon by City Council President Ronnie Fussell and Mayor John Peyton for the project.

City officials say waiting for a guarantee on the price shouldn't hold up the timeline for completion because other work is ongoing behind the scenes, such as design, permitting and soliciting subcontractors for bids.
Turner Construction Co., hired by the city to oversee the project, is expected to provide the "guaranteed maximum price" by mid-April, as well as an updated timeline.
I f the city determines that the guaranteed price or construction calendar provided by Turner is unsatisfactory, it can negotiate with the company or alter the scope of the project.
How long this process takes will determine when the company receives the final go-ahead to proceed with construction and ultimately when the courthouse will finally come to fruition. 
City administrators are still planning on a soft opening for the building by June 30, 2011, which is when Peyton leaves office. And they expect final completion by December of that year or January 2012.

Earlier this year, the council approved the $350 million pricetag, which includes $64 million already spent on the project and money that will be used to renovate the Ed Ball Building and Old Federal Courthouse for offices of the state attorney and public defender.

The construction and design of the courthouse is budgeted for $223.6 million, and an additional $15 million is set aside for the furniture, fixtures, technology and other equipment that must be installed.

The foundation for the building was supposed to start being poured now, according to existing construction timelines.

But Fussell said Wednesday he asked the mayor several weeks ago to hold off and wait for that guaranteed maximum price to ensure the courthouse can be built within budget while still meeting standards of quality. That was the City Council's intent all along, he said.

"With this project where it is in life, we just have to make sure we do all the right things," Fussell said.

Sam Mousa was Mayor John Delaney's aide when a $190 million courthouse project was approved as part of the Better Jacksonville Plan in 2000. He now serves as the city's project consultant for the courthouse.

Mousa said Wednesday he initially pushed for construction to begin earlier in hopes of accelerating the completion date. But Fussell's request is fair and shouldn't change the price of the project or the timeline, he said.

"We're still on the original schedule," Mousa said.

Despite the lack of visible activity at the LaVilla site, work on the courthouse is progressing. On Dec. 4, the Downtown Development Review Board gave its final approval of the building's exterior, including the visual renderings and the actual materials that will be used in construction.

Paul Crawford, deputy director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission where the review board is housed, said the courthouse presentation included a complete overview of what the building will look like from every angle, including driving down Interstate 95 and walking downtown.

"It was a very thorough presentation to hit on all the details that anyone would ask about the exterior details of the courthouse," Crawford said.

The Courthouse Architectural Review Committee approved the exterior design in November, and next month it will be asked to sign off on the interior.

The 800,000-square-foot building will have seven floors. Plans call for 51 courtrooms and chambers for 64 judges.

Family, civil and criminal cases will all be handled in this one unified building. The Duval County Clerk of Courts and court administration offices will also be housed there.

Monroe Street will remain open but will be rerouted to make a semi-circle around the main entrance on the southern side of the courthouse.

City officials expect the building to be certified as an energy-efficient building by the federal government.

There will 14 elevators in all, including six for the public. Judges and staff will use a separate set of four elevators, and prisoners and other defendants will use the remaining four.

"That was critical that there be separate corridors for each different type of traveler," said Dave Schneider, the city's senior project manager.

Schneider said he meets with judges frequently to update them on design changes and to solicit input. He has also reached out to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office and the Clerk of Courts Office.

The newly elected public defender and state attorney, once they take office, will have a big say in how their nearby buildings are designed as part of the larger project.

The Ed Ball Building and Old Federal Courthouse are scheduled to open at the same time as the courthouse.

tia.mitchell@jacksonville.com, (904) 359-4425

[tufsu1]

I know how many people on here like to bash the Mayor....but it sounds like this delay is not his fault!

[thelakelander]

To tell the truth, I hope its delayed until 2011 or at least till the cost decreases.  No personal bashing intended.  Its just a bad situation (that's been said a thousand times over the years) all around.  I agree with the comments Bill Bishop made regarding this project last month 100%.

[Coolyfett]

Where is the cat walk that connects the garage to the courthouse? You know all those lawyer people hate getting wet.

[GatorShane]

I am still disgusted with the  design and shortness, but it doesnt seem to look as bad when seen from  these renderings. Remember the 323 Duval building? Does anyone know if this is still in the works? Hopefully that project gets going also so we could fill in another empty Lavilla lot.

[thelakelander]

323 Duval is delayed until something happens with the courthouse project.