Pinnacle Editorial: Downtown businesses should use courthouse construction to spur economy

San Benito County is about to get a significant economic boost with construction of the San Benito County Courthouse, and the activity should reemphasize the importance of keeping this monumental project downtown.
San Benito County court officials recently announced that construction would start in the next couple weeks on the $36 million construction of a new facility, at the site of the former Fremont School along Fourth Street between West and Monterey streets.
The county, and particularly downtown Hollister, can really use the boost not only from the construction, but also the long-term impacts from building the complex in the center of the city as opposed to the outskirts near the jail on Fallon Road. It is a reminder that San Benito County was on the perilous verge of moving the local center of justice and civic activity – it is the home of the elections office, after all, among other departments crucial in citizens’ everyday lives – to an area with far fewer residual benefits to the community. It is a reminder that downtown would have absorbed a serious blow for future prospects and prosperity at the worst time possible – if not for dedicated community leaders who came together and forced the state to reverse its initial decision in favor of the Fremont School site.
In the short term, some people in the local contracting industry will benefit tremendously, with an array of subcontractors working on the project under the state’s designated general contractor, Kitchell Construction out of San Jose, during the project expected to last 16 to 18 months. Those workers also will likely spend a lot of their hard-earned money at downtown restaurants and other stores, or filling up their gas tanks at local gas stations.
For the long term, local business organizations and government leaders should start planning now for the downtown’s makeover with a new, modernized courthouse. It is sure to bolster the downtown district’s economic prospects. With thoughtful planning and creative ideas for businesses that might benefit from the courthouse and all of its related foot traffic, the community would maximize on that potential.