[MarkDaMan]

I'm not sure if there will be enough information coming up to keep this thread from getting lost, but Bob R. on Portland Architecture has made this interesting mock-up of the available block for the new courthouse, after the relocation of the Hawthorne Bridge ramps.

http://www.bobrichardson.com/misc_images/HawthorneBridgeRamp_Reconfigured.jpg

[pdxman]

:fingerscrossed: I just hope the design is good...i'm just worried that they'll go cheap.

[zilfondel]

Government buildings cheap? Hahahaha, that's a good one... what planet are you from? And which city just built a $57 million tram (DON'T GO THERE - just for illustrative purposes!)

[MarkDaMan]

looking at the overview...why can't they more cheaply just add onto the current on ramp onto the Hawthorne so it can handle traffic in both directions? On 1st Ave, all off ramp traffic can be diverted right onto the one way street, tear down the existing off ramp adding more space to Waterfront Park, and just situate the new courthouse closer to the World Trade Center, onto the current ramp, and build a sliver park between the two buildings?

[urbanlife]

let me get this straight, for the longest time they were fighting to have the block the office building will be built on when they had a block they owned outright, just one block further?

So who do I have to kick in the balls for taking so long to make this choice? If it is the same person deciding what the design will look like, i might have to stick around them a bit longer.

[bvpcvm]

^ wasn't part of the issue that they wanted to be right next to the jail so that prisoner transfer would be easier? (i.e., underground tunnel rather than van)

[urbanlife]

^ wasn't part of the issue that they wanted to be right next to the jail so that prisoner transfer would be easier? (i.e., underground tunnel rather than van)

But they could still build an underground tunnel, it would just be a bit longer. The city does own the streets, nothing wrong with putting it under one of them.

[der Reisender]

i think the First and Main folks were willing to let the tunnel run under there property as a way to ward off the condemnation threats

[NJD]

I'm curious as to why they would spend the money on ramp relocation when they could build around the ramp like the Seattle Municipal Tower? Would it cost more than $10m to have what could be an architectural marvel as an entry to downtown?

[zilfondel]

Tunnel through a courthouse? Are you crazy? We're talking about the United States here.

That would bring the building to the top-5 list of "Al-Qaeda targets to bomb" for the USA.

Also, on a more relavant note, there isn't much land area on the current block to build on, making it a lot more expensive than an extra $10 million to build a public building.

[MarkDaMan]

PDC's $9 million will go for courthouse
Multnomah County - Most of the money will help move a Hawthorne Bridge ramp
Friday, January 26, 2007
The Oregonian

The Portland Development Commission will contribute $9 million to Multnomah County's efforts to build a new courthouse, according to the commission's director, Bruce Warner.

The money will pay the bulk of the cost of relocating the Hawthorne Bridge ramp that cuts through county-owned property on the west side of the river. In December, after years of searching, the county board of commissioners selected the downtown site for the construction of a replacement for the county's dilapidated and overburdened courthouse.

"We want to see Multnomah County move ahead with their project," Warner said. "We just hope they can do it quickly."

The county has lobbied the PDC for the money for months, citing a previous commitment the agency made to spend that amount on a different county project. Last week, Warner told county Chairman Ted Wheeler that the agency was prepared to contribute, Wheeler said.

In exchange, the PDC wants to oversee development of some surplus county-owned property. The deal has not been made final and still requires the PDC board's approval, Warner said.

Commissioner Maria Rojo de Steffey, who along with Commissioner Lisa Naito had taken a lead on pushing for a new courthouse, said she would ask the county to use one-time funding to pay the rest of the $10.7 million relocation project, expected to take 21/2 years.

-- Arthur Gregg Sulzberger
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/portland_news/116978013631910.xml&coll=7

[alexjon]

New tallest! New tallest!

...

... it had to be said.

[Dougall5505]

i agree but they wouldn't build a new tallest on the waterfront

[65MAX]

Um, county courthouses typically aren't 600' high... :rolleyes:

[mcbaby]

i hope that it has a good design.

[alexjon]

Um, county courthouses typically aren't 600' high... :rolleyes:

Multi-use city building! See, it'd work out :)

[65MAX]

I think the blocks N and S of the Galleria are our best shots for a new tallest. Here, I'd like to see another Thomas Mayne (Morphosis) project. He did a great job in Eugene. :tup:

[NJD]

Here, I'd like to see another Thomas Mayne (Morphosis) project. He did a great job in Eugene.
... like this future Paris Thomas Mayne project...

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/102/366333223_1326a0c98c_o.jpg
http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2006/12/19/arts/mayne.600.jpg

[PDX City-State]

I'd love to see it too--but it would never happen here. Portland is very prude when it comes to design. The Seattle Library, for example, would never be supported in Portland. It's really too bad.

[PacificNW]

Actually, I know that I share this view with few others, but I don't think the Seattle Library design will age well....I am not its biggest fan...inside or out. But I have to agree that Seattle seems to be more open to the dramatic as compared to Portland.

[mcbaby]

i think our library is lovely. i just hope our courthouse isn't as bland as the surrounding buildings since it will become part of the skyline from across the bridge.

[PacificNW]

↑Where the new county courthouse is going to rise definitely calls for a special design vs. the blandness of the surrounding architecture.

[PDX City-State]

i think our library is lovely.

I agree. It's lovely. Portland is indeed....precious. I don't think that every building needs to be cutting edge. Some of my favorite buildings in Portland are pretty traditional. However, I believe that every city needs to take on a project once in a while that really pushes the envelope. There is, after all, a dialog in visual arts that's global--and Portland never really throws its hat into that ring. Big design projects not only bring recognition to the city, they could also bring some of that global dialog to a city that may be hip and cool, but is not particularly internationally minded. What's the biggest difference between Portland and Seattle? Seattle made the decision a long time ago that it wanted to be part of the dialog. I'm sorry--the tram will get some national press, but it's no Space Needle.

[pdxman]

Whats awesome about europe is that they're willing to pay for a unique design like the mayne building in france. Money doesn't seem to be a factor in projects across the pond whether they be buildings, bridges, transportation or anything relating to development. Its awesome.

[westsider]

It would be fantastic to get a real statement of a building right there on the water in the center of the skyline. I'm not sure what the height limitations are there but hopefully it will be a little taller than it's squatty neighbors on naito. I'm pretty sure there is enough ego going around the county government to ensure we will get an interesting, too expensive building.

[65MAX]

A building doesn't have to be tall to be make a statement. Look at Bilbao, or Pompidou, or the Sydney Opera House.....



...(or the Portland Bldg)... :runaway:

[MarkDaMan]

PDC gets involved in courthouse project

The westbound off-ramp from the Hawthorne Bridge will eventually make way for a new Multnomah County Courthouse.

Last week, the Portland Development Commission agreed to provide $9 million of the $10.7 million needed to move the ramp and free up the block. Funds will come from the final bonds sale for PDC's Downtown Waterfront urban renewal area, which includes the property. Bonds are repaid with taxes levied on the rising value of land within the urban renewal area.

After nearly 40 years and two dozen blue ribbon studies, the county is moving to replace the aging and dangerous courthouse at 1021 S.W. Fourth Ave. by building a new one on the block currently bisected by the Hawthorne Bridge off-ramp, at Southwest First Avenue and Madison Street.

Ramp work could be the most visible sign of progress for the foreseeable future. Though the existing courthouse is too small and potentially unsafe in an earthquake, no one has identified the source of the $190 million it will take to construct a modern edition.

County officials hope that by settling on a specific site, public support will build behind the effort, said Doug Butler, county facilities director.

PDC will also help Multnomah County sell the multi-block parcel it owns near the Morrison Bridgehead to help raise the money it needs for the courthouse. The property was appraised in 2005 for $8.8 million.
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/11/26/newscolumn4.html?t=printable

[joeplayer1989]

That would bring the building to the top-5 list of "Al-Qaeda targets to bomb" for the USA..

Thats the dumbest thing I have ever heard on this forum.

[zilfondel]

Thats the dumbest thing I have ever heard on this forum.

Indeed it is! Did I say that? I must have been drunk, I swear. :rolleyes:

[MarkDaMan]

Monday, April 21, 2008 - 1:45 PM PDT
PDC cuts check to Multnomah County for new courthouse
Portland Business Journal

The Portland Development Commission has contributed nearly $9 million to relocate the Hawthorne Bridge off-ramp to make way for a much-needed new courthouse for Multnomah County.

The PDC voted in November to provide most of the estimated $10.7 million it will cost to move the ramp to free up the block for construction of a courthouse.

The county announced today it has received the money from the city's development agency.

"I am encouraged by the commitment the Portland Development Commission is making to help Multnomah County prepare the site for a new courthouse," said County Commissioner Lisa Naito in a statement.

Constructed in 1914, the current courthouse is the busiest in the state but is ill-suited to the needs of a modern justice system. County officials have studied the structure for more than 40 years and concluded it would be unsafe in an earthquake.

A new courthouse would cost an estimated $250 million to construct, but no source for the money has been found.

In the interim, the city and county are creating space for a new courthouse at the intersection of Southwest First and Main street, adjacent the World Trade Center.

Westbound drivers on Hawthorne currently enter the city via a soft curve. That alignment would be replaced with a hard right, leading to the same destination.

The PDC is funding its share of the project from the final bonds sale for its Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area.
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/04/21/daily6.html?t=printable

[onebulgar]

Indeed it is! Did I say that? I must have been drunk, I swear. :rolleyes:

Busiest in the state...:yuck: They should stop writing tickets left and right instead. Portland's finest are one of the worst in the state but our judges are setting the bench mark even lower! :koko: So, then why waste money? Can't they pick another place? Does it have to be as prime as it is?

[zaphod]

well to be fair isn't Multnomah county also have the most people?

so obviously it's going to have the busiest court...

[PacificNW]

In addition, more cases of crime being committed within the county (whether you are a Multnomah County resident, or not) also makes the court busier than others in the state.

[philopdx]

Given the old building's lack of structural integrity in a potential earthquake, are they going to tear it down once they build the new one, or have it serve some other function?

[RED_PDXer]

Given the old building's lack of structural integrity in a potential earthquake, are they going to tear it down once they build the new one, or have it serve some other function?

Good question.. It's a gorgeous building and it's huge as well. I doubt very strongly that it is beyond repair.

[urbanlife]

Busiest in the state...:yuck: They should stop writing tickets left and right instead. Portland's finest are one of the worst in the state but our judges are setting the bench mark even lower! :koko: So, then why waste money? Can't they pick another place? Does it have to be as prime as it is?

they picked it because it is a piece of city owned land, plus it is still in the area they would want to keep the courthouse in.

As for what they would do with the old building. My guess is it will sit vacant for a while till someone comes along and renovates it. I would wager that it would get retrofitted and the inner area would be cut out of it to allow a tower to rise up. But then again, I could be totally wrong in that guess.

[MarkDaMan]

^county owned land...

They actually did try to swap with the lot with the One Main Place development but I believe it was Equity at the time, wasn't interested.

I'm sure once the county moves to new digs, and who knows if that will happen in the next ten years, they will issue an RFP for reuse ideas.

[MarkDaMan]

Multnomah to look at courthouse options
Portland Business Journal by Andy Giegerich , Business Journal staff writer
Date: Monday, June 11, 2012, 8:37pm PDT

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2012/06/11/multnomah-to-look-at-courthouse-options.html?ana=e_ptl_rdup&s=newsletter&ed=2012-06-12

Multnomah County is winnowing its options for either replacing the county’s Portland courthouse or renovating the current facility.

While the options have yet to be formally announced, one idea is that the county explore building a facility in Portland’s Central Eastside Industrial District. Another proposed site is in Northwest Portland’s Pearl District.

The County Commission will address a “downtown courthouse options analysis” on Thursday. Among the options are building new structures at a cost of between $151 million and $227 million.

The report calls for the county to:

Study finance capabilities to either fund a renovation or acquire land and build a new courthouse.
Set a project budget and schedule for those options.
Examine public-private partnership funding options to pay for the project.
Ascertain whether developers would want to turn the existing courthouse into another project.

The current downtown courthouse is at 1021 S.W. Fourth Ave.

The Portland-based consultant Inici group performed the study for the county.

Andy Giegerich covers government, law, health care and sports business.

[MarkDaMan]

Multnomah County set to take a long look at building a new courthouse
Dana Tims, The Oregonian
on February 26, 2013 at 5:12 PM, updated February 26, 2013 at 9:14 PM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/02/multnomah_county_without_a_cen.html#incart_river_default

Multnomah County took an important, albeit symbolic step Tuesday in tabling the idea of renovating its aging downtown Portland courthouse in favor of exploring ways to build a new structure at a different location.

Following a slide-filled briefing, the Board of Commissioners unofficially endorsed a recommendation to let staff spend the coming year assessing how an entirely new courthouse project could come together.

In doing so, the commissioners essentially eliminated the renovation option, which has remained in the mix for decades as board after board wrestled with ways either to replace or refurbish a century-old courthouse that lacks seismic bracing and any semblance of modern mechanical and electrical systems.

“The biggest accomplishment to date is that we are moving forward,” said Commissioner Judy Shiprack, who along with colleague Deborah Kafoury, has led the effort. “I’m really excited.”

Shiprack’s comments came after a presentation from Partnerships British Columbia, a B.C.-based company that uses public-private partnerships to finance large-scale infrastructure projects.

The board made no decisions about whether that type of arrangement might work to rebuild a new Multnomah County Courthouse, but board members listened intently to a plan based on the idea that a private company would design, build, operate and maintain a new, 300,000-square-foot structure.

Using that model, the county would continue to own the building, while making payments to the private entity for a period of time — say, 30 years — to cover operating costs.

A huge advantage for the county is that the model would bring private-market investors into the mix. That’s especially important in this case because cash-strapped Multnomah County, already tapped out by the Sellwood Bridge rebuild project and other demands, has no money to offer up on its own...(continues)

[RED_PDXer]

Multnomah County set to take a long look at building a new courthouse
Dana Tims, The Oregonian
on February 26, 2013 at 5:12 PM, updated February 26, 2013 at 9:14 PM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2013/02/multnomah_county_without_a_cen.html#incart_river_default

I've never been in the 100 year old courthouse on SW 5th, but I'm disappointed the county would favor a new building over retrofitting the old. At the time, it was the largest building in Portland. It still carries more mass than most buildings downtown. At 5-6 stories tall and a full block development it would be a sad day if it ever goes away.

[tworivers]

Quote:
Originally Posted by MarkDaMan View Post
Multnomah County set to take a long look at building a new courthouse
Dana Tims, The Oregonian
on February 26, 2013 at 5:12 PM, updated February 26, 2013 at 9:14 PM

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/i..._river_default
I've never been in the 100 year old courthouse on SW 5th, but I'm disappointed the county would favor a new building over retrofitting the old. At the time, it was the largest building in Portland. It still carries more mass than most buildings downtown. At 5-6 stories tall and a full block development it would be a sad day if it ever goes away.

^^^ Maybe we could turn it into a 7-story parking garage.

[stan]

The current courthouse is a tragedy waiting to happen, so it's great that Multnomah County seems serious about getting a new courthouse built. A passing bus causes some of the courtrooms to noticeably shake, hate to think what a earthquake would do. Renovating the current building was looked at in a previous study, but would have been very expensive and taken longer than just building a new courthouse due to having to accommodate the current workers and service provided by the courthouse.

Hopefully next courthouse will be downtown pretty near the current location.

[mmeade]

Sadly, this building won't stop being a seismic problem when the courts find a new home. For this building to be safe, it will need an extensive seismic renovation. I sincerely hope that a public agency finds a way to fund the renovation and keep this Civic treasure part of the Central downtown core. Public funding is sometimes a necessary way to keep these expensive treasures active and a part of the city. Private funding is based on profit, which will be hard to come by with a seismic renovation this large.

[MarkDaMan]

Yet the county is sadly broke as a joke and most likely will not be able to fund such a major update, let alone build a new building. I don't think the new "Education Urban Renewal District" covers the courthouse, which is too bad, because it will take a public/private partnership (think Macy's/Nines/PDC) to bring this building back.