During the public hearing on Tuesday before members of the state delegation, Trial Court Administrator Thomas Ambrosino and Trial Court Chief Justice Jeffrey Locke were among those who spoke about their support for a new courthouse in Hampden County and in the city of Springfield.
In June 2022, Mayor Sarno, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Tim Sheehan, Peter Picknelly and development officials announced visionary plans for the continued development of the north riverfront property area that could potentially include the construction many economic development opportunity projects, including a new state-of-the-art courthouse with over 700 parking spots.
The north riverfront area encompasses over 14 acres of developable waterfront land and if the Commonwealth decides to move forward, would increase and continue to enhance access and enjoyment along the riverfront area that also encompasses Riverfront Park which currently contains many amenities such as a playground area, passive recreation, and the September 11th Memorial monument.
Mayor Sarno states, “I want to thank and commend those judicial officials that testified before our state delegation during the recent state budget hearing that was held at STCC. The challenges the current courthouse is experiencing have been an ongoing issue for many years and it is time to for the Commonwealth to seriously review plans to build a new state-of-the-art courthouse which can be built within 3-4 years. Our trial court employees and residents deserve it and our court employees only want to move once.”
“Working in collaboration with key stakeholders and developers, we have provided a unique, visionary and potentially all-encompassing project that continues my administration’s commitment of dreaming big on local economic development projects, big and small,” continued Mayor Sarno. “The potential of this project would continue to spur our riverfront development and create more of that good four-letter word – JOBS, both construction and permanent! Additionally, we could offer prime waterfront real estate to develop not only a new state-of-the-art courthouse facility but also new residential housing, a marina with boat access to the Connecticut River, close proximity to our public transportation hub at Union Station. The potential of this project would enhance our local riverfront development efforts and create excellent economic development spinoff effects for our local businesses.”
“In addition, relocating and building a brand-new court facility would make the old courthouse building a very attractive economic development site with potential tax revenue possibilities through a private developer and/or possibly part of a potential MGM Springfield footprint expansion,” said Mayor Sarno
“Again, my administration is open to working with the state to see if this would be a good economic development opportunity for our trial court system and their employees. We have the land area and a potential developer ready to work with the city and the state to continue to move our Springfield and the Commonwealth forward,” Mayor Sarno added.
Please see the attached Press Release from June 30, 2022 announcing the potential North Riverfront Development Plans.
