Courthouse a welcome sign of progress
What a breath of fresh air.
Many officials, businesspeople and citizens this week celebrated
the groundbreaking for the new San Benito County Courthouse, a big
upgrade over the antiquated, 49-year-old facility and a reason for
optimism about the economic future of downtown.
The groundbreaking Monday was marked by an air of progress, a
sign of good things ahead. The $37.4 million state project comes at
an opportune time for San Benito County and the downtown area. In
the midst of a national recession taking a particularly heavy hit
on post-moratorium Hollister, the courthouse project should help
both in the short and long term.
Courthouse a welcome sign of progress
What a breath of fresh air.
Many officials, businesspeople and citizens this week celebrated the groundbreaking for the new San Benito County Courthouse, a big upgrade over the antiquated, 49-year-old facility and a reason for optimism about the economic future of downtown.
The groundbreaking Monday was marked by an air of progress, a sign of good things ahead. The $37.4 million state project comes at an opportune time for San Benito County and the downtown area. In the midst of a national recession taking a particularly heavy hit on post-moratorium Hollister, the courthouse project should help both in the short and long term.
In the short term, it will be one of the larger economic boons the area has seen in years, as there will be a bevy of opportunities for construction jobs and contracts in the 18-month project. In the long term, the 41,500-square-foot structure will stand as a foundation of civic activity. There will be scores, if not hundreds, of workers and visitors on a daily basis. Those residents will tend to use other merchants and services in the area while benefiting the downtown with a consistent flow of consumers.
While it is easy to look ahead, the groundbreaking also provides a chance to reflect on how we have gotten to this point. After an initial state approval in 2006, the county had to provide two options for a site. The state ended up choosing the far less-preferred one, near the jail on Flynn Road. That decision was due to seismic concerns at the old Fremont School, the more desirable choice of locals.
Many local groups and residents deserve credit for coming together in 2008 after the state indicated its top choice, and prompting a reversal from the Administrative Office of the Courts that led to the use of the downtown location. It was solidified after a Hollister Redevelopment Agency-funded seismic study showed it is a safe spot for the structure.
That kind of support shows people here truly care about their community and having a voice in how it progresses forward. Everyone involved should be proud, while the community has a new focal point that proves immense progress is possible when people work together.
