New courthouse: Multnomah County officials choose top site and a backup

Multnomah County commissioners Thursday took the next step toward building a new downtown courthouse: naming a site.

Commissioners unanimously chose an L-shaped lot at the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge. They named a block-size parking lot between the KOIN Center and the Marriott Hotel as the backup.

Court officials preferred the site because of its proximity to the justice center while the project team also said the county owned property would save taxpayers about $20 million. That's the value they're placing on the backup location.

The fate of the existing 100-year-old courthouse on Southwest Fourth Avenue has yet to be determined, officials have said.

Commissioner Jules Bailey, who represents the area, said he's received more contact and emails from constituents asking him to approve the two locations instead of opposing them.

In a meeting that started with about 160 people, commissioners heard well over an hour of public comment, mostly pleas in opposition to the bridge location. Many echoed concerns by Veritable Quandary owner Denny King, whose restaurant would be right next to the courthouse, that construction could close the longtime business. Others said the county-owned lot should be left as greenspace.

"I would be devastated to lose it," said King, whose voice quivered at times. Erin Hokland, King's general manager, said more than 2,600 people have signed a petition opposing the Hawthorne bridge location. Her employees and their family filled the courtroom holding cardboard signs of opposition.

Supporters of the choice, however, including judges and advocates of courthouse safety, said it's time for county leaders to approve a site after 40 years of waiting and almost 30 studies on the issue.

Mike Day, a consultant hired to help manage the project, told commissioners a courthouse at the west end of the bridge provides commuters a reminder of the county's role in justice.

If built at the bridge location, the district attorney's office and high volume courts that deal with small claims or traffic issues would relocate, Day said.

The city-owned parking garage west of the site also provides secure parking for judges. The location will allow for the future construction of underground tunnels to link with the Justice Center on Southwest Third Avenue. Those tunnels would allow transportation of county inmates without exposure to the public.

"Having it be someplace where it really shines is important in addition to the issues of safety and security and efficiency," said Nan Waller, Circuit Court presiding judge. "The Hawthorne bridgehead provides that."

An earthquake could mean devastating loss of property and life, supporters said. And victims of domestic violence shouldn't have to share hallways with their accused offenders, some said.

The county team leading the project told commissioners they would return in 90 days for final approval of the site selection before beginning the process to solicit architectural and construction agreements.

Between now and then, county officials will conduct environmental and other pre-construction work.

"There will be more time for public comment so I don't want you to walk away from here thinking you're not going to be heard, again and again and again," Chairwoman Deborah Kafoury said.

If all goes according to plan, county officials estimate the courthouse, with a price tag of about $250 million, will open by 2020.

State Rep. Jennifer Williamson, D-Portland, said she helped the county secure funding from the state to build the courthouse because it would only be used for state purposes, such as trials and hearings. Other county courthouses in Oregon have mixed uses carried out for state and local purposes, she said.

"Our judges are state judges, and we do the business of the state in the county courthouse," she said.

Williamson said the county should move while support at the Legislature exists.

For now, the state has authorized the sale of $15 million in bonds to help with costs. She expects the state will consider selling an additional $110 million within the next six years.

"Currently that's the plan. Obviously we cannot bind a future Legislature, but we have been working very closely with the county on those budget projections," Williamson said.

— Tony Hernandez

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.