Demolition to start for new courthouse

Rendering of back of new central county courthouse facing State Street in downtown San Diego. Preparation is underway for demolition of existing buildings.

All eyes were on Bob Filner last week as his criminal sentencing took place in San Diego Superior Court. Few people were aware that it also was a momentous week for the aging courthouse itself. Steps to replace the facility at 220 West Broadway were getting underway.

A 1.4-acre site a block away will become the home of a new 22-story courthouse slated to replace the old main courthouse, along with nearby family and probate court facilities and a Kearny Mesa small claims case trailer.

On Wednesday, tenants in three small office buildings that currently occupy that site were ordered to vacate, and a public parking lot was closed so demolition preparations can begin. Bounded by West C Street, Union Street, West B Street and State Street, the block was the longtime home of the King Stahlman Bail Bonds.

Superior Court Presiding Judge Robert Trentacosta, who on Dec. 9 announced Filners sentence, has been working with the state Administrative Office of the Courts and others on the new 71-courtroom high rise, to be equipped with state-of-the-art security and technology.

He called the current 1961 structure, which straddles an active seismic fault, antiquated and dilapidated.

Its a mess, said Judge Trentacosta. The heating, ventilation, water pipes, everything is breaking. Were hanging on until the new courthouse is built.

In fact, the day Trentacosta took over as presiding judge nearly two years ago, a pipe broke on the fifth floor that sent a water gushing into his third floor area. When the heating system broke down, they recently had to bring in portable boilers.

Sale of lease revenue bonds was completed last month. Groundbreaking on the $552 million project, paid for by court penalties, fees and fines, will be in March, and the new courthouse is slated to open in October of 2016.

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Demolition to start for new courthouse