Agency looks to construct new building at downtown location ‘if
possible’
It looks like local opposition to the new courthouse site got the state’s attention.
The state’s Administrative Office of the Courts announced today that it is reconsidering its choice of a county-owned Flynn Road parcel for the new courthouse over the local preference downtown at the city-owned Fremont School building.
The decision comes after local organizations – including the chamber of commerce, Hollister Downtown Association and San Benito County Bar Association – publicly criticized the selection and asked for reconsideration of the downtown site. Some residents here have contended that moving the courthouse, relatively flush with activity for the area, would hurt downtown businesses relying on its users.
Now, the state agency is saying it would reverse the decision and build downtown if local governments fund the necessary seismic work – as is under consideration – and also “project (cost) escalations” if realized, according to a press release from the AOC.
Bill Avera, development services director at the Hollister Redevelopment Agency, has said the city already had planned to conduct seismic testing in the area regardless of where the courthouse moves and that it would cover the bill.
“Upon reconsideration, we are making an opportunity for that (downtown) site to be acquired,” said Rona Rothenberg, spokeswoman for the office of the courts.
The state agency had announced in February it chose the site near the county jail and noted expensive seismic work needed at the old Fremont School that possibly could delay construction. That came after a local site selection committee picked the downtown location as its No. 1 choice, with the county parcel as the alternative.
Once a site is chosen, the state will be set to fund the estimated $32.5 million construction. To do so under California law, a court facility’s transfer of ownership must take place before the state can pay for such a capital project.
In San Benito County’s case, the AOC on March 14 obtained formal permission from the state’s public works board to progress on acquiring both sites so that the acquisition phase can be finished by a June 30, 2009 deadline set by the Legislature, Rothenberg said.
In declaring it would concurrently pursue acquisition of both sites, the agency had this to say in the press release:
“The state and the local project advisory team, including members of the Superior Court of San Benito County, the City of Hollister, the County of San Benito, and the City of San Juan Bautista, are committed to completing a new courthouse project to provide improved access to justice for residents of San Benito County. To achieve this, the state will acquire the downtown site if possible.”
