Mount Vernon Mayor Matt Starr has announced that the city's Municipal Court will be relocated to properties recently purchased by the city, situated next door to City Hall. The decision was made in an effort to centralize services and improve accessibility for residents. The acquisition of these four properties was finalized in the summer of 2022.
Starr said, "Other vacant lots were considered," according to a Mount Vernon press release, "but when this opportunity to purchase the adjacent building came, it made the most sense to have a centralized city complex, or campus, for more responsiveness to customers/citizens conducting business with the City. Safety is of utmost importance, including mitigating and limiting the current structure and life-safety issues of the newly acquired building."
The parcels that were purchased are located at 3 E. High St., 16 N. Main St., 4 E. Chestnut St., and 6 E. Chestnut St., all on or near Public Square where the Municipal Court and other City offices will be constructed, as per information from a Mount Vernon press release.
According to another press release from Mount Vernon, the new Municipal Courthouse will be located on the High Street property on the northeast side of Public Square. It will also house the offices of the City Law Director. The properties on North Main and East Chestnut Streets are directly north of City Hall and will serve as an annex for city offices.
Renovating the existing building at 5 Gay St., which currently houses its Municipal court, was deemed too costly by city officials. In October 2023, design renderings for both a new building and police station were presented to the public, with written comments solicited after discussion.
Preserving historical integrity was a major concern among residents. Starr addressed this issue saying: "The historical features on the extension of the building facing Public Square will be replicated to reflect the late 1800s time frame to mark the historic architecture," according to a Mount Vernon press release.
Compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements was another concern raised, as per the same press release. Starr assured that the new building will meet all ADA requirements, including a fire suppression system and bomb-resistant walls. Other properties that were considered fell short in meeting these ADA needs.
In response to concerns about losing local retail and office space from the existing historic buildings, Starr stated that current retail spaces will be retained and improved. Retail office space will remain on the ground floor and possibly in the basement, according to another Mount Vernon press release. The construction contractor will be required to work with the city to ensure court business continuity during construction.
Addressing comments about the new courthouse potentially being taller than any other building on Public Square, Starr said that the city needed to plan for its growth and the expansion of Municipal Court services. These plans include a second courtroom.
The project is currently in its planning phase. A budget and funding package for design will need to be secured before moving into the design phase, according to a Mount Vernon press release. It is estimated that it will take between 4½ to 5 years before construction can commence.
