Courthouse project approved

[Seraphs]

Hind sight being truly 20/20, since we are having a Taj Mahal courthouse any way would'nt it have been much better if they had just built the original saving about 100 million dollars.  I agree with the others anticipating what will be done with the existing courthouse site.

[Matt]

wait....AN 800something squarefeet building?! that means one block, no?! Yay!!!!
i wonder what the plans are like....
probobly a building that is Peyton's head. maybe with a thumbs up, sorta like this(except a building)....



or maybe a peyton highrise colossus!



either way im happy. the other buildings being far away is kinda dumb, but hey, maybe the people will have to walk through downtown!!! well, let's not get crazy.....the fiasco is finally over....hopefully.

[RiversideGator]

I am very happy that the City Council and Mayor have finally decided to act on this matter.  I do hope that they revisit the issue of the design though.  Hopefully the rendering was not the final word on this because it was abysmal. 

[Steve]

They are expecting a mini boom of related construction to commence simultaneously with the Courthouse erection. (that sounds dodgy...oh well, its accurate)

Well, I'd say that when this thing actually breaks ground, THEN you might see some surrounding development.  Until then.....

[gatorback]

Vikki is wonderful.  I love Vikki in Jesus's name.  I hope the store is doing better....not the gossiping, but the retail side...who am I kidding I loved the gossip too.   

[Steve]

Glad to hear they are doing better - they really are two very nice people that are dedicated to their business.

This is just one example of the may people that were indirectly affected by five years of screwing around on the courthouse.

[gatorback]

Well, that is the good news.  Yeah!!!! They were always so giving to me during my job search sending and receiving faxes, use of their computers, their phones, copies of my resume, etc. I'm so grateful to them.

[Dapperdan]

But all the mini construction will be for just more 9-5 business. Maybe some lawyers will get smart and add a loft or two above their new buildings.

[thelakelander]

This is where the DDRB should enforce the addition of street retail and make the downtown environment takes advantage of the courthouse's foot traffic.  A ton of people will be visiting this particular area every weekday, between the hours of 9-5.  It will be a good location for retailers and cafes looking to capitalize off the traffic.  However, you're right in that this could be a huge dead zone (well it already is right now so it can't get any worse) at nights and weekends. 

One way to help stimulate business on the weekend would be the inclusion of some urban public space (perhaps at the courthouse's entrance) that could include space for uses that attract visitors around the clock.  In Toronto, their City Hall (which is more monumental then our courthouse will be), contains an outdoor concrete plaza with a huge water feature and monuments.  During the workdays, its a popular place for street vendors.  At night and on weekends the fountain and greenspace attracts visitors and serves as a drop off for local city tour operations.  The fountain also becomes an outdoor ice skating rink during the winter.

[Jason]

In order for that to work there has to be a residential element nearby, which does not currently exist nor are there plans in the near future.  That's why selling off the surrounding block for workforce housing makes the most sence.  There is plenty of office space nearby and plenty of other vacant lots for new office towers for the lawers and other companies linked to the courthouse and city hall.

[thelakelander]

Remember, Metropolitan Lofts, Citi Place and the Adams Street strip is within a one to two block walk from the courthouse site.  Nevertheless, I agree that additional courthouse property should be sold off.  Its better to have one or two dead blocks on the weekend in the heart of downtown, then seven.

[Jason]

I forgot about Metropolitan.  Hopefully, the east end of LaVilla will start to fill in to create a residential element completely surrounding the courthouse area thereby becomming a central meeting point.

[Beloki]

Does anyone have a artist impression of what the courthouse is going to look like now. If seen the old peyton palace impressions, I wonder if anything changed??

[raheem942]

well any blueprints?

[thelakelander]

I've put in two email requests, but nobody at city hall has responded to me yet.