The Superior Court of Mendocino County is pleased to announce that escrow has closed on the purchase of land for the new Mendocino County Courthouse in Ukiah. The Judicial Council of California (JCC) has acquired the 4.1 acre parcel from the North Coast Railroad Authority (NCRA) with state funds specifically dedicated to courthouse construction projects.
The new courthouse will be built adjacent to the old railroad depot on Perkins Street. Construction of the new courthouse will result in a modern, secure building to house eight courtrooms as well as space for court staff and court support services. It will include adequately sized jury assembly and deliberation rooms as well as separate holding facilities and elevators for in custody defendants. The site will also include dedicated parking lots for courthouse employees and visitors.
The new courthouse will be a centerpiece for Ukiah and Mendocino County. The project will be designed by the internationally renowned firm of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, LLP, which has built award winning projects around the world, including other courthouses in California. It will help revitalize a blighted area of the downtown that has sat idle for many years.
The NCRA and the City of Ukiah are working with JCC and the Court to develop the balance of the railroad depot property with access not only to the courthouse but also to other parcels which will be developed on the railroad property. This includes public access to the parcel from Clay Street, which will open up the connection to the downtown from Clay Street past the Grace Hudson Museum, and the extension of Hospital Drive.
The next step in the process for the Court and JCC will be the preparation of preliminary plans for the courthouse and the site. This stage has been funded by the state budget. The following stage is the preparation of actual working drawings before the construction phase can begin. Construction is currently scheduled to be completed in 2020. Judge Dave Nelson said, “We are excited to complete the long and difficult process of acquiring this site for the new courthouse. We look forward to working with all our partners to build a courthouse that all the citizens of the county can be proud of and that will serve the people of Mendocino County for years to come.”
For more information contact:
Christopher Ruhl
Court Executive Officer
100 N. State Street, Room 303
Ukiah, CA 95482
(707) 463-4662
Categorized in: Legal Procedure
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