Councilman-Elect Kelly Begins Courthouse Review

Councilman-elect Matt Kelly posted on his Facebook page today that he is working with stakeholders for the city's courthouse project to see if there are ways to save money and improve parking.

When Kelly joins City Council in July he will form a new majority with council members Fred Howe, Bea Paolucci and Brad Ellis, who voted against the courthouse project last year because of the cost and size on Princess Anne Street downtown.

Kelly also said he has spoken with Mayor-elect Mary Katherine Greenlaw about the project, as well as a majority of council members.

"I am open to discussion and we are talking," Greenlaw confirmed Saturday.

Another development with the courthouse project is that Councilman Ellis got confirmation that the city does not have to spend all of the $35 million in bond money for the courthouse project with First Choice, the design-build team. The money borrowed can only be spent on court-related projects, and the ordinance defines the project as: “…certain acquisition, construction, and equipping costs of (i) a new courts facility, (ii) the renovation of existing court facilities, and (iii) interim or permanent relocation of existing court facilities, functions, and ancillary court services…”

If City Council decides not to spend all of the borrowed funds on the courts project, it could use the balance for something like renovating the Renwick building.

Kelly posted the following message:

Have now met with courthouse stakeholders and had some discussions with staff, a majority of council members, and Mary Katherine Greenlaw. Spending May getting up to speed on all aspects of the courts project. Have asked to meet with the design team sometime in June. Awaiting word on that request. At this point JDR will move to Executive Plaza and demolition will proceed on the site chosen by council. The scope and size of the court complex itself is being discussed along with the issues of parking, and what will happen with the Renwick courthouse to include recincorporating it into the overall project.

I believe the current court proposal is too big for the site and there is insufficient infrastructure to support it such as parking. We should consider downsizing the project to fit our historic downtown, meet the foreseeable needs of the courts (beyond that should be a regional discussion), and save some money if possible.

Whatever we do we need this discussion to occur in the public arena. Residents needs to understand what we are trying to do to include making the effort to build a better project, and if possible, save them some money. If not savings then an understanding that they are getting the best bang for the buck. Not looking to reinvent the wheel or drawing out the process any longer than necessary.

I’ve asked some local folks from the legal, architectural, and large project oversight communities to assist me in this review . As this process moves forward you will be in the loop.