Friday, February 27, 2004
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Friday, February 27, 2004 |
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Court complex still under budget By JOHN THOMPSON The first tangible proof of the county’s new judicial center occured this week as demolition began on the old Quality Foods shopping center. Once the demolition and clearing is completed, Coweta County expects to stage a groundbreaking for the judicial center in April. Choate Construction won the contract for the $40 million complex, which is being funded through a Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax. Officials estimate the center will open 18 months from ground breaking. Some of the specifics of the new complex include: • Main courts building — 129,000 sq. ft. • Juvenile courts building — 30,000 sq. ft. Coweta County officials said the current projection shows the complex $1.3 million under budget. However, officials stressed there are still some $800,000 in known costs for security and landscape items coming up, so the project remains under budget even after those costs are considered. Building takes architectural features of the historic courthouse and incorporates them into the new facade making the facility blend in with the overall appearance of Newnan. The county has been meticulous, in fact, about the type of bricks to be used on the exterior of the structure. For the last few months, the courthouse committee has been bringing brick samples to the Coweta County Commission meetings. Chairman Vernon “Mutt” Hunter has been meticulous about the color red involved in the bricks and the committee is on the verge of making its final choice.
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