City ‘officially’ breaks ground on new judicial center in downtown Columbus
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL) — Almost six weeks after construction on a new judicial building in downtown Columbus began, an official ground-breaking ceremony was held in the old plaza Thursday afternoon.
This has been a controversial project. There have been questions about the $200 million dollar price tag. Some people were not happy with the location, just across the street from the historic Springer Opera House.
But here we are. …
City leaders, judges and citizens gathered today as the city marked the “official” start of construction of what will be the single most expensive public building in Columbus’ history.
The eight-story building will house the county’s courts and and the offices needed to support the judicial system.
It is scheduled to be completed in June of 20-26. At that time, the courts will be moved from the 53-year-old tower into the new building.
The tower will be demolished in early 20-27. By the summer of that year parking lot will replace the current Government Center.
The history of the old tower is not lost on one Superior Court judge.
“You know, this courthouse when it opened was state of the art,” said Superior Court Judge Gil McBride. “It was intended to be a symbol of consolidation. It was the first courthouse of its type in Georgia. We had we were the first consolidated government in Georgia. So, the idea of having it all under one roof was very novel at the time. But needs have changed. The way cases have tried is changed. And so today is sort of a turning the page and moving on to what I think is a very good future for Columbus.”
A U.S. Congressman began practicing law in that building 52 years ago also was at the groundbreaking.
“The old facility, you know, represents so much historically as well as so much symbolically for our community,” said Congressman Sanford Bishop, D-Albany . “It is the government center. And when I came here, it was where the judicial branch and the executive branch of the city found itself, as well as the legislative branch. All three branches were located here, along with a lot of the support of agencies.”
Superior Court Judge Bobby Peters has worked in the Government Center tower since it opened in 1971. He was a Sheriff’s deputy, an attorney, city councilor, mayor and now jurist.
“I think they’re tearing it down to get rid of me,” he said, laughing. ” It’s a lot of good memories. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of progress over the years and a part of it I’ve enjoyed very much and I’m very proud of. Wow, this is a great city, a growing city, and it’s a community that includes everyone.”
Mayor Skip Henderson also laughed when he heard of Peters’ comment.
‘He looks good for 108-year-old,” Henderson quipped. “But I think his point made comically is that there’s a lot of history in this building and really in this site. So, I think it’s really important that the new judicial center is going to be right here on this historic site.”
First Baptist Church Senior Pastor Jimmy Elder delivered the prayer before Thursday’s ceremony. He says it’s fitting the new justice center will remain on what he called Holy Ground.
“I believe that wherever justice is dispensed and wherever people have the opportunity to be treated fairly and for order and law to be honored, I believe it’s holy ground,” Elder said. “God is a God of justice. He’s a God of mercy. He’s a God of grace. Well, from generation to generation in our community here, that’s exactly what it’s been. This is where justice has been administered. This is where people have come and their lives have been changed. And this is an important place.”
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