The Athens-Clarke County Unified Government (ACCGov) will host community feedback opportunities on nine potential sites identified as possible locations for the new Judicial Center as part of SPLOST 2020 Project 1: Facilities Space Modernization.

Potential sites were evaluated by the SPLOST Site Selection Committee, a resident committee appointed by Mayor Kelly Girtz and chaired by District 1 Commissioner Patrick Davenport, and ranked based on the site selection criteria that was approved by the Mayor and Commission on November 1, 2022. Nine of the highest-scoring sites have been identified as potential sites for the facility. The sites are:

355 East Hancock Avenue – current location of Robert G. Stephens Federal Building
132 Cleveland Avenue / 1005 College Avenue – current location of ACCGov-owned CHaRM Facility / old Landfill
1570 Lexington Road – current location of B&B Theatres Athens 12
2915, 2665, 2555 Lexington Road – current location of ACCGov-owned properties for Landscape Management, public safety campus, and undeveloped land
160, 230 Strong Street – current location of surface parking lots managed by the Athens Downtown Parking System
484 North Avenue – current location of Piggly Wiggly and U-Haul Plaza
120 W. Dougherty Street – current location of ACCGov Dougherty Street Government Building
200 Boley Drive – current location of partially developed Athens Amphitheatre
165 Pulaski Street / 110 Newton Street / 354, 384, 396, 404, 414 West Broad Street – current location of Redeemer Presbyterian Church and undeveloped lots
Public meetings are scheduled for Wednesday, May 17 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at Fire Station 7 (2350 S. Barnett Shoals Road), Wednesday, May 17 from 5:00 to 7:00 PM at Fire Station 2 (265 Cleveland Road), and Saturday, May 20 from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at the Athens-Clarke County Library (2025 Baxter Street) while an online map and survey are now available at www.accgov.com/judicialcenter through May 21 for public input on the potential site locations. The webpage, map, and survey also include information on the potential sites and the project process.

Residents can drop in anytime during the public meetings to find out details, ask questions about the project, and provide feedback on the potential sites. In addition to providing general project information and addressing attendees’ questions and feedback, conversations will also address timelines and next steps for the site selection and facility.

This project will provide funding for land acquisition, design, construction, equipping, and other expenses so as to provide expanded, modern space for community, governmental, and judicial functions currently provided at the existing historic Courthouse and annex.

Depending on costs and funding availability, the new building will provide space for community functions currently provided at the existing historic Courthouse and annex plus space for additional courts; alternative courts; separate holding space for juvenile detainees; separate travel spaces for visitors, inmates, and judicial staff; and other related functions such as determined to be necessary for an effective and modern judicial space.

After public input on the potential sites, the SPLOST Site Selection Committee will bring the recommended list of candidate sites to the Mayor and Commission for final consideration in fall 2023. Substantial completion of the facility is expected by late 2026.

The current budgeted construction cost for the facility is $44 million. Changes to the budgeted items are likely depending on the purchase price for the site and the design and construction process.

To learn more about SPLOST 2020 Project 1: Facilities Space Modernization Project / Judicial Center, or to take the brief survey through May 21, visit www.accgov.com/judicialcenter.

For additional questions, contact the SPLOST Program Management Office at 706-613-3025 or [email protected].