Published: October 10, 2008 04:42 pm            

Officials adjust expectations for new judicial center

DANVILLE — — Banning Engineering and Arc Design adjusted some of what they estimate the county will need in a new judicial center at a joint meeting of the county commissioners and council Thursday at the Hendricks County Government Center.

The county contracted both companies to conduct a feasibility study on the judicial center. The current location on the courthouse square here is supporting five Superior Courts, a Circuit Court, probation offices for both, offices for the county clerk and prosecuting attorney, and the child support division. There’s also a continual lack of parking.

Phase one of the feasibility study focused on needed space allocation. Banning and Arc Design originally presented their findings to county representatives in August. Projections then estimated an additional 14,000 gross square feet will be needed for the court system in the next five years. That’s in addition to the nearly 43,000 square feet already being used in three floors of the courthouse. By 2030, which is as far as the study projects, space needs are expected to balloon to 106,000 gross square feet.

On Thursday, Banning and Arc Design readjusted those figures, estimating 11,042 gross square feet will be needed in the next five years, and 76,345 in 20. They also lowered the projected number of courts needed by 2030 from 10 to eight, though they left open the option of expanding to 10. They also expect 390 parking spaces will be needed in the next two decades, down from the original expectation of 420.

Adjustment of these figures stems from a revised county population growth projection of less than 200,000 in the next 20 years. The original forecast was an extra 250,000 to 260,000 residents.

Both the council and commissioners approved Banning and Arc Design proceeding to phase two. This is when it really gets interesting. The study now determines how much it will cost to keep the judicial center on the square or to move it to the old county fairgrounds east of town.

Danville officials have been working diligently to ensure the answer is the former. They fear moving it from the square will irreversibly damage their economic center. If the judicial center stays on the square, it will have to be housed in multiple buildings, which would sacrifice some efficiency. But Councilman Myron Anderson questioned whether building a whole new facility at the old fairgrounds would make economic sense when the county already has a courthouse.

Jeff Martin, Danville Town Council president, told commissioners this summer the town is working on finding a new site for its town hall and police department, which are currently along the west side of the square. That space could be added to the three-quarters of a block Danville already owns there.

“We’re not anywhere close to saying we’re going to build this yet,” said County Commissioner Eric Wathen. “The funds aren’t there to do it. We’re looking at what we need to do because we know we’re going to need to do something soon.”

Banning Engineering’s Steve Craney previously said phase two of the feasibility study could take more than a year. That’s not good news to Anderson.

“Rumors are running rampant in downtown Danville,” he said.

He said one business owner on the square told him he’s moving because he heard his building will be torn down to make way for the judicial center.

“The sooner we can move forward with this, the better,” Anderson said.



wade.coggeshall@flyergroup.com

        

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