Athens-Clarke County invites public input on new $225 million judicial center

ATHENS, Ga. — Athens-Clarke County residents will have an opportunity this week to weigh in on plans for a new $225 million Judicial Center as the county moves forward with one of its largest capital improvement projects.

A drop-in public input meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 30, from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Dougherty Street Government Building at 120 W. Dougherty Street. Residents may attend at any time during the meeting to review plans, ask questions and provide feedback.

The meeting follows action by the Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission on June 2 approving the downtown government building site at 120 W. Dougherty Street as the future home of the new Judicial Center, part of the SPLOST 2020 Facilities Space Modernization Project.

Modern courthouse planned

County leaders approved an updated concept calling for construction of a 218,215-square-foot judicial complex with an estimated cost of $225 million. The building is designed to improve efficiency, security and accessibility by grouping related court functions together. Plans include:

• High-volume public services, including the Clerk of Court, Sheriff’s Office and Municipal Court, on the lower floors.
• Superior Court on a single floor.
• State Court located alongside the Solicitor’s Office.
• The District Attorney’s Office on the same floor as the Grand Jury.
• A shared floor for Juvenile Court and Treatment Services with room for future expansion.
• Jury assembly and the Clerk of Court on the second floor with stair access.
• Secure parking beneath the building.

The Mayor and Commission also voted to advance the project into schematic design and adopted a resolution establishing an Urban Redevelopment Agency to support the effort.

Two-phase project

The Judicial Center is the first phase of a broader Facilities Space Modernization Program.

Phase I includes designing and constructing the new Judicial Center to house court operations, judicial staff and related community functions currently located in the historic courthouse and annex.

Phase II calls for renovating the existing historic courthouse and annex into space for other county government operations. Officials have also said portions of the buildings could eventually be used for community services, child care, retail or commercial purposes, depending on future needs and available funding.

County officials say the modernization project is intended to provide expanded courtroom space, improve security by separating public, inmate and judicial circulation, create dedicated juvenile holding areas and accommodate additional courts as the community grows.

The project is funded through the 2020 Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) program.