In a lengthy process that so far has dragged on for more than one year, the Administrative Office of the Court (AOC) has entered into a public-private partnership with the Long Beach Redevelopment Agency (RDA) to develop a new downtown courthouse. The agreement was approved yesterday by the California Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
According to a release announcing the partnership:
The new facility will be located in Downtown’s West Gateway area, between Broadway and 3rd, West of Magnolia. The courthouse is anticipated to be complete in 2012, and will replace the outdated facility located at 415 Ocean Boulevard.
“This is first in the state of California for a project of this magnitude,” Long Beach mayor Bob Foster said in the release. “Long Beach has found a unique and creative way to maximize our local dollars and enter into a public/private partnership that will result in a new courthouse for our city.”
The new courthouse will be owned by the state, which will cover operating costs over a 30-year payment plan. The AOC will direct design, finance, construction, operation and maintenance.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor