PORTSMOUTH
Construction bids for a new $45 million Circuit Courthouse are scheduled to go out in about 60 days. Yet as of last week, city leaders were still weighing less expensive options, such as renovating the facility.
The proposal, which the court's judges and several council members did not endorse last week, was being discussed again because of concerns about the city taking on too much debt. Portsmouth, which has a long list of building needs, is in the midst of a hiring freeze and dealing with a budget shortfall.
City leaders are also considering moving the court's operations to existing space in the Port Centre Commerce Park, which is located south of the current courthouse.
Chief Judge Mark S. Davis pointed out at a work session last week that the city has already committed to building a new courthouse.
About $1.7 million has been spent on designing a new facility. According to those plans, the new courthouse would be built on the downtown roundabout, not far from the current facility.
Portsmouth's circuit judges have spent hundreds of hours with Moseley Architects and city engineers to refine those designs, Davis told the council last week.
The judges even presided over a mock courtroom in January with project architects and engineers to test out and refine design plans.
They and court staff have continued to work in a courthouse in which Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas says conditions have reached a "crisis level" with the understanding that a new courthouse would be completed by July 2010.
Circuit Judge Dean W. Sword Jr. said he told the city manager last week that the renovation proposal was "dead on arrival."
Psimas said renovating the courthouse would mean keeping the facility on the city's downtown waterfront for a long time. That would violate one of the city's visions - to get the court complex and jail off the waterfront to free up valuable real estate for private development, she said.
Portsmouth judges have been talking to city officials since 1995 about their concerns with the current facility.
Since then, city officials have considered renovation plans several times. L ast year the council passed a resolution to construct a new one by the summer of 2010.
They have pointed out that renovation plans would mean moving court operations twice, once for the repairs to be made and then again to return, and would not address many of the issues they've raised.
Inmates are walked through the same hallways as judges, attorneys and court officers, which is a safety concern, judges have said. R oof leaks and asbestos also are concerns.
The judges can order the city to construct safe facilities but to date have not. The city is holding firm to its commitment to provide safe, adequate facilities for the courthouse, Councilman Doug Smith said.
"That may very well be building a new facility across the street, but I am hopeful that we can find a solution that allows us to do that in a more financially palatable way," Smith said.
He said he has struggled with the idea of taking on $50 million of debt for the courthouse in this economy.
Staff writer Harry Minium contributed to this report.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com
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Run for council??
It doesn't matter who runs for council in Portsmouth. When incumbents get large amounts of special interest money, the number of votes necessary to win an election can be obtained by flooding the area with signs.
This is partly because only 20% of eligible voters took part in the last election. What is disheartening about that is that Portsmouth is a city ranked in the top 10 cities in the nation for the number of active and retired military calling it home. You would think these people knew the price this country has paid in the past for the right to vote.
Maybe we should all run for council!
We all agree and our ideas make good sense. Council run anyone? : -)
something to think about
I have an idea. Let's spend a ton of money on renovating the courthouse...then, consider moving it 1 year later.
Did I read that correctly?
He has trouble taking on $50 million in debt in this economy? I didn't see where city council had any trouble taking on the cost of the big traffic circle or the improvements down at the Holiday Inn site. What about that money Louise Lucas wanted for her mega hotel and conference center that is completely unnecessary- did she get that? I never heard so maybe someone can enlighten me. The entire civic center needs to be relocated and the properties between Effingham St. and Seventh St. would be perfect. Then again that just makes too much sense and our city council will probably never go for it. Just another day in the life of a P-towner I suppose!
moving the court house
Isn't necessarily a smart idea. All it will do is provide an area for private developers to build large scale condos that no one can afford. The taxes won't be pouring in there is no way that it would ever be developed into some kind of usable housing for the masses. This makes way too much sense.
Start Listening to Your Citzens Mayor
Mayor...better start listening to the people and move ALL government offices, courtrooms, and waterfront view jail cells off the water OR the next election you will not squeak by with a marginal election victory.
I suppose you need to ask
I suppose you need to ask whether freeing up valuable waterfront property is going to offset the $50 million cost of a new courthouse. It might in 20 or 30 years but right now it doesn't seem like a great idea to me....
New Court house needed.
I agree we need a new courthouse but the city just can't afford it. However, since we are funding the new Holiday Inn project while hotel rooms in Portsmouth already stand vacant, why don't we house the prisoners in the new Holiday Inn.
I also agree that the land next to the new firehouse should be used for the courthouse complex. However,council wants to build the courthouse on land made accessible by the roundabout. If you remember, the roundabout was supposed to make adjacent land more accessible for development.I think they had this location for the courthouse in mind all the time. Portsmouth council lied to the voters about the real reason for the roundabout.
Move It
I agree with previous comments, build a new courthouse away from the waterfront. It's time the city leaders used our most valuable property for taxable purposes. Move to the Effingham corridor and kill two with one: turn undevelopable property into a government center and take care of environmental concerns at the same time. Then we can sell the courts building for a nice sum, require a mixed usage developement, and create property tax for a city that really needs it. We no longer have the luxury of waterfront based government centers. We spent the money on the circle to attract developement so let's do it right.
move and change employees
I vote to not only MOVE the location of the courthouse to somewhere you can actually get in and out of but change and actually hire qualified clerks!
Wait I forgot this is Portsmouth were talking about and well you get what you pay for
What a waste of waterfront property!
I think it makes sense to move the jail and courts off the water front and allow private development of shops and attractions in it's place. But that would take some real vision and even more tax payer dollars. Two things Portsmouth leadership has a shortage of.
Better yet...
Mid-city is coming up as a retail center...you wouldn't want to put a court/jail complex there. And, there are nice homes in the Willet Hall area, so you wouldn't want to put a court/jail complex therethere. But....what about that huge open area on Effingham next to the new fire station? Weren't there projects there some years ago? Plenty of room for parking, easy to get to, close to 264, out of the downtown area but still close, not on prime real estate, and won't mess up any of the new developments.
You've got to move it move it
Go ahead and tear down the old Woodrow Wilson High School building on Willett Drive, and build a new courthouse complex there, right next to Willett Hall. There's plenty of parking, easy access, and it's city property already.
Move the Courthouse
Now's the time to make a big jump...get the courthouse off the waterfront AND out of the downtown area for good...how about the old Norcom or Academy Park sites?
Other options?
As a resident of Portsmouth, I've found it frustrating that a city in such financial trouble would not consider moving all of it's government facilities to a less costly location. All of the current facilities occupy the most expensive property in the city. That land could be used for commercial and/or residential use which in turn would reap huge returns in tax revenue.
How about finishing projects like leveling Jeffrey Wilson? How about repaving roads that are trashing the shocks and tires of drivers traveling roads like Frederick Blvd. and George Washington Hwy. everyday? Perhaps that $45 million could be used in a more practical way that a brand new courthouse. Will a new courthouse bring in more money? Will more people choose to speed and drive on suspended licenses so they can see this new facility? Maybe a renovation might be in order but to sink that much money while the rest of the city is struggling doesn't seem to make much sense.