State Approves Acquisition of New Redding Courthouse Site

The State Public Works Board (SPWB) today approved the acquisition of a site in Redding for the new courthouse for the Superior Court of Shasta County. The site is approximately two acres at Oregon and Yuba Streets, less than a block from the current courthouse, the Shasta County Jail and Justice Center, and county administration offices. It is in close proximity to other justice partners and served by nearby public transportation.

“The action taken today by the SPWB is the result of years of collaboration with local government entities to secure the best possible site for a new courthouse,” said Presiding Judge Molly A. Bigelow of the Superior Court of Shasta County. “We will continue to press forward in order to construct the first secure, adequately sized court facility for Shasta County citizens.”

The City of Redding Redevelopment Agency secured acquisition rights to the privately owned parcels within the Market Street Redevelopment Area and will assign those rights to the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC). On June 28, 2011, the Shasta County Board of Supervisors approved the $2.5 million sale, which involves an equity exchange for the court’s space in the current courthouse and cash. These actions will enable the AOC to acquire the courthouse site. Close of escrow is expected within 30 to 60 days. Architectural design, for which the architecture firm NBBJ has been selected, is the next step in the process.

The proposed new courthouse will consolidate all adult and juvenile court operations from the main courthouse and annex, the justice center, and the juvenile court into one location housing 14 courtrooms in approximately 173,350 square feet. The proposed project is ranked as an “immediate need” on the Judicial Council’s list of capital-outlay projects. It will be funded by Senate Bill 1407, enacted in 2008 to provide up to $5 billion in funding for 41 new and renovated courthouses using court fees, penalties, and assessments rather than the state’s General Fund.

The state Budget Act for fiscal year 2011–2012 contains significant cuts to the judicial branch budget in general and to the account that funds SB 1407 projects in particular. These cuts may cause delays in SB 1407 projects, but are not expected to affect the site acquisition approved today.

More information on the project can be found on the California Courts website at: www.courts.ca.gov/facilities-shasta.htm

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-from press release

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