Existing building eyed as new Portsmouth courthouse

PORTSMOUTH
Moving the city's Circuit Court to an existing building on Port Centre Parkway instead of building anew could save the city more than $18 million, according to a presentation that was made public this week on the city's Web site.
The option, from the office of City Manager Kenneth Chandler, says building court facilities in Port Centre One would cost about $26.8 million.
The city had committed to building a $45 million courthouse, which is in the final design stages. The slowing economy caused the council to ask for options.
Chandler said the city cannot afford to build a courthouse or renovate the existing one, which the City Council has also repeatedly considered.
The council is to be briefed on the new option for the Circuit Court at its work session Monday night.
Circuit Court Chief Judge James A. Cales Jr. said he could not comment on the proposal until he had seen it.
"We'll be glad to look at anything they've got if they can provide a safe place to work that can function and do what a good courthouse should do," Cales said.
"We are in favor of saving money if it's apples and apples," he said. "So far, every way they've tried to save money has been apples and oranges."
Under the Port Centre proposal, the city would buy the building and 3 acres of land for expansion, Chandler said.
The city's General District and Juvenile and Domestic Relations courts could also eventually move to the site, he said.
The city would be able to finance the project over six years, Chandler said. That would allow Portsmouth to keep its debt ratio at a level where it can preserve its bond rating.
Port Centre One is about five blocks from the current courts complex.
Two council members said they saw many good things in the proposal and that it would enable private development downtown.
"If the dollars are correct and the timing is correct, then $20 million gets my attention," Councilwoman Elizabeth Psimas said.
Vice Mayor Bill Moody Jr. said he thought the proposal was a great option.
As for the walk from the current courts complex to the proposed new site, Moody said the distance wasn't too far.
"It's a matter of scheduling. For $20 million, they can do a little traveling," Moody said.
Pilot staff writer Janie Bryant contributed to this report.
Jen McCaffery, (757) 446-2627, jen.mccaffery@pilotonline.com