The Soviet-style hulk called the Hall of Justice
I'm quoted in the Santa Rosa Press Democrat today.
Just when it seemed a new courthouse in downtown Santa Rosa was a dead idea, Santa Rosa City Manager Kathy Millison has revived talk of a downtown location.
"For us, it's a long shot, but I really didn't want to pass up the opportunity if there was any interest," Millison said. After checking with state officials about the progress of negotiations with the county, Millison said she learned the state still was interested in entertaining a downtown proposal, if one were made quickly.
The betting money is still on a location around the current county complex, which I think is the easy answer but a poor one for Santa Rosa. Here's what I told reporter Kevin McCallum:
Attorney Richard Koman noted that most of the city's attorneys work downtown, and going out to the county center isn't a great experience for them. The current courthouse is a "horrible Soviet-style hulk," parking is "a mess," and there are few services there, he said."There isn't any vibrancy at all at the county center," Koman said.
For a city split by a highway and mall and struggling to keep its downtown vital, a new courthouse can only help, he said.
"I just think a courthouse and everything that happens around that could be an anchor for revitalization downtown," Koman said.
Back in February, I wrote in praise of a downtown location, saying:
A downtown location for the criminal court is hands-down the best possible choice. With lawyers, jurors and those attending court coming downtown, local eateries and shopping places could see a jump in business. More importantly, the decision to move the courthouse out of Courthouse Square back in the 1960s was exactly the kind of decision that sucked the life out of downtown Santa Rosa. Only the decision to slice downtown in half with US 101 and creation of the the Santa Rosa Marketplace, were more damaging to the city's life force.
Here's hoping...
