QUOTE:This is going to be a catalyst for redevelopment of this part of the city," he said.UNQUOTE
Another pipe dream that us tax payers will foot the bill. Augusta's politicians are alwaysa trying to make this a little Atlanta. Not gonna happen!
The stalling is over. Construction of Augusta's $67 million judicial center began Wednesday with a ceremonial shoveling of dirt by city dignitaries, a groundbreaking 14 years in the making.
About 200 people including county commissioners, state legislators, district attorney's and solicitor's office staffs, sheriff's office personnel, city employees and local attorneys attended the ceremony on a lot north of Walton Way between Tenth Street and James Brown Boulevard.
On the site of a former strip club, the center will be what Chief Superior Court Judge Carlisle Overstreet described as a symbol of stability. In about two years, it will be a place where not only basic rights are protected, but also the history of the county through records of property transactions, marriages, adoptions and probate settlements, he said.
When he took the podium, Mayor Deke Copenhaver pointed to the nearby third level of the Augusta Canal.
"This is going to be a catalyst for redevelopment of this part of the city," he said.
The center will be four and two stories high in different sections, with 15 courtrooms and hearing rooms and space for the district attorney's and solicitor's offices.
Parts of Fenwick and Talcot streets will be closed for the building, which will be designed to be easily expanded, Judge Overstreet said.
The first committee to plan for a new courthouse was formed in 1994. Voters approved funds for it on multiple special-purpose sales tax ballots, but the site kept moving. At various times, discussions placed it near the Savannah River, on Greene Street, at the fairgrounds and at one point at the defunct Regency Mall. As the plan evolved, more offices became part of the concept.
Mr. Copenhaver credited the current Augusta Commission with speeding the process. He said it's no coincidence that the judicial center, the new library and the new jail pods at the Webster Detention Center have all started before year's end.
TAKE A TOUR
To view architect's renderings and a computer-generated virtual tour of the new judicial center, go to www.augustaga.gov/judicialcenter.asp.
Comments
QUOTE:This is going to be a catalyst for redevelopment of this part of the city," he said.UNQUOTE
Another pipe dream that us tax payers will foot the bill. Augusta's politicians are alwaysa trying to make this a little Atlanta. Not gonna happen!
Fantastic, I only wish they had done this years ago. The delay resulted in a scaled down building due to increased costs. However, this helps the core downtown area tremendously.
This will be another boondoggle by this dysfunctional government.
Which minority contractors will make money off of this and how bad a job will they do?
What a great convenient location,downtown slum district.I guess there was no room in south or west Augusta. I am sure a lot of real justice will be administered here. What a mess.
Why can't they reuse buildings that have been vacant for years and give it a face lift.
Great job Augusta! Lets continue to improve downtown. There were always be haters like wcr250. Lets keep moving into the future. While other's stay in the past. Why in hell would you put the judicial center in South or West Augusta. Makes no sense. The james brown towhomes, the library, and judicial center will all be on james brown boulevard. It would look very nice when done.
Chris1982 if you go downtown they're already doing that. The whites building, green building, ESI, woolworth building, loft ideas building, and others. All have been rennovated or are underway. Not to mention the several buildings especially along broad. Which have been converted into apartments/lofts.
If I rememmber the SPLOST money that we voted for was $40 million, so where did the $67 million come from. Maybe we need to look at the books, after all its our money not theirs. Just wondering.
Golly gee I didn't know justice in Augusta was so bad because we didn't have a palace to dispense it in. Its just too bad the Webster center is so far away from the new court. But wait, isn't that the reason we built downtown because they needed to be near the jail? Oh well we citizens aren't smart enough to bring that up are we? Well folks that is the very reason we stacked another facility into downtown, we were told that the court had to be close to the jail, and now they are building the jail farther away.
So, what will happen to the current judicial center? Just another empty building?
Nothing will happen to the current judicial center. 401 will be used as its used now. As a jail and for people who have to go to court. For minor violations such as traffic court.
They can move the building anywhere they wish, they'll still have the same people in Probate Court being harassed by the same pet of the Judge who was put in charge of long term employees and cannot perform a simple marriage licence or gun permit application . Save Richmond County sixty grand a year: study the management staff in Probate Court.
am i the only one that can't stand that smug look that's always on betty beards face? i would like to hit her with a shovel. worthless!
You know I am so sick of the James Brown name-so what if he gave a few turkeys out once or twice a year, everything does not need to center around his name. We have a perfectly good area-REgency Mall, no they don't want to fix it up, put all the judicial center out here together, OH NO, that would mmean they would have to lower themselves to actually be in South Augusta, Oh MY GOD!!!!!!!! South Augusta has some good people in it and rich people I might add. We are in a RECESSION BUT WE CAN BUILD A $67 MILLION BLDDG. aND PLEASE GET RID OF FRED RUSSELL. tHANKS
That is the prefect neighborhood to have it. Crack destroyed the residetal section.
Alright, a new hang out for one stop shopping. Commit a crime, get captured, go to jail, go to court, and then back to your cell for the longer term prison.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012. All Rights Reserved.
