Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/19/2023
SPRINGFIELD — There are clear divides among state and city officials in the vision of the new courthouse that will be constructed to replace the existing one at 50 State St. in Springfield.
The remarks follow Gov. Maura Healey’s June 22 announcement that stated, “Our administration envisions the Springfield court complex as an opportunity to build a courthouse of the future, utilizing the most advanced approaches to energy efficiency and demonstrating best-in-class design.”
The Healey-Driscoll administration will include $106 million in its fiscal year 2024-28 Capital Improvement Plan to begin the process of building a new, modern Hall of Justice in Springfield.
While City Councilor at-Large Sean Curran praised Healey’s initiative to set aside the funding for the construction of a new courthouse, he said, “Let’s split the courthouse project in two.”
“[The] idea of a site on the riverfront makes a lot of sense from an economic development perspective,” Curran said. “I think one idea that the city, state and private developers should consider is splitting up the courthouse.”
He continued, “We could take the Registry of Probate and Registry of Deeds and place that on the riverfront. Perhaps a private developer could plan market rate housing and restaurants and outdoor dining around such a complex.”
Curran noted that splitting up a courthouse is not a new idea, as Hampshire County has a split courthouse away from its criminal division. “The Hampshire County Register of Probate has its own separate complex, which is housed in a very nice modern building,” he said.
Curran also acknowledged the amount of construction jobs that the new courthouse will create. “I think if we split up the project, it could speed up the timetable on construction. That’s a positive as a new courthouse will be one of the largest construction projects that we will see in the city for years,” he said.
Another possibility shared by Curran is the idea of building the criminal division of the District Court, Superior Court and Clerk of Courts on the Vibra Hospital location on State Street.
“A courthouse at the Vibra Hospital would be a game changer for the State Street corridor,” Curran said. “It definitely will bring an economic jolt to an area that can use a boost. Court officers, judges, clerks — many of whom are making north of $100,000 — would all need a place to eat lunch and dinner after work.”
In 2013, Curran was the first to file state legislation to study the construction of a new courthouse. He explained that he mainly did this as an economic development initiative. “At the time, both Boston and Worcester had both secured new courthouses. I figured, why shouldn’t Springfield get the same state investment?” he said.
He went on to say, “It made sense, as the new MGM [Springfield] casino was not yet constructed … I figured that the casino might make use of the courthouse site.”
At that time, he noted that the health issues associated with the courthouse were unknown to him.
“What does not make any sense is to build the courthouse on the current location if health issues are the reason why we are building a new building … We may end up spending $500 million and still have the same health problems.”
Some of Curran’s additional concerns are with the diesel exhaust coming from cars idling beneath the existing courthouse, along with passing by on Interstate 91.
“That car exhaust certainly cannot be healthy,” he added.
Although Curran’s 2013 legislation did not make it to the governor’s desk, he noted that one aspect of the legislation did pass. “The original legislation calls for naming the courthouse after [Supreme Judicial Court] Chief Justice and Springfield native Roderick Ireland. The legislature picked up the idea in the next session and eventually did name the courthouse after Justice Ireland,” he said.
Curran shared that his next steps include talking with members of the legislative delegation and Mayor Domenic Sarno to see if there is support for two courthouse projects in Springfield.
Reminder Publishing reached out to Curran for additional comment but did not hear back as of press time.
On July 11, state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr. (D-Springfield) sent a letter to the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance Commissioner Carol Gladstone, expressing support of Healey’s plans for a new courthouse. Like Curran, Puppolo said a new building is “much needed” to address health and safety issues for courthouse staff and visitors. However, Puppolo would like DCAMM to revisit a proposed development project on the north riverfront site as a potential new courthouse location.
The site to which he referred has been long supported by Sarno, who believes it “would be a game changer for the city of Springfield and address a wide variety of needs for our city, including much needed additional housing to the city, which is a cornerstone of Gov. Healey’s administration,” Sarno said in a written statement.
Additionally, the project would address parking and public transportation aspects, establish restaurant and boutique shops, create jobs, along with a proposed marina.
Sarno and local businessman Peter Picknelly brought this proposal forward on June 30, 2022. The riverfront property is owned by Picknelly and is accessible through Avocado Street.
Picknelly’s vision for the courthouse is a four-story building on 12.5 acres with 210,000 to 260,000 square feet of space. It would have a 700-car parking area, with 150 spaces in an underground garage. There would also be a raised boardwalk from the courthouse property leading to a look-out area at the river. The design and construction cost of this project would be between $255 and $295 million.
In addition to a new courthouse, on the other side of Clinton Street, Picknelly wants to build an 11-story residential center with 120 to 180 one- and two-bedroom apartments with the first floor designated for retail and restaurants. The apartment building is estimated to cost $150 to $175 million.
Puppolo said it is “the ideal home” for a brand new, state-of-the-art courthouse facility.
“I am very pleased at this project moving forward and please know of my support every step of the way,” Puppolo shared. “As the Dean of Delegation, I look forward to having a meeting with the Springfield Delegation and all local representatives very soon relative to this project.”
On July 13, Springfield City Council President Jesse Lederman and Vice President Melvin Edwards also sent a letter to DCAMM asking the state to consider construction plans that could allow for a new Hampden County Hall of Justice to be combined with a new headquarters for the Springfield Police Department.
In a press release, Lederman explained that their letter follows a 2021 resolution that the City Council passed, and he sponsored. The resolution called on the state to demolish the existing courthouse and address the existing health and operational challenges.
“The recent report by DCAMM and announcement of an initial investment from the commonwealth is a welcome indication that action is finally on the horizon to address the longstanding health and operational challenges of the Hampden County Hall of Justice,” Lederman said. “As the state moves forward with consideration of viable options, we are asking that they also consider the concept of a combined Public Safety Complex with the Springfield Police Department to further streamline operations and move forward a new headquarters and courthouse with possible savings in the long-term, as opposed to having to construct two separate facilities.”
Lederman noted that the city of Springfield has been considering the need for a new police headquarters since 2015, due to “operational limitations” and “lack of ability to meet modern policing and national accreditation standards.”
Edwards said, “The potential of a combined public safety headquarters could be a win-win for the commonwealth and for the city of Springfield both financially and operationally.”
He continued, “I believe it is worthy of consideration amongst the stakeholders as the process moves forward.”
In the letter to DCAMM, Lederman and Edwards urged the state to consider sites nearby Springfield’s Union Station, which they believe “would spur needed business and housing development on the northern end of downtown in anticipation of the future arrival of East-West Rail, as well as open up the existing courthouse and police headquarters sites for additional needed business and housing development that is cohesive with their respective locations.”
While the councilors believe it is too early in the process to be advocating in favor of a specific site, they asked the state to consider the larger economic impact of the new courthouse construction and potential public safety complex.
“It is essential that any plan that moves forward enhances the economic integrity of Downtown Springfield and provides the opportunity for further economic spin off from this monumental investment,” they concluded.