Comments on: Contributor Opinion by Mary Ellen Flynn: Time for the New District Courthouse to be Built at the Old Library Site http://rockvillecentral.com/2008/01/contributor-opinion-by-mary-ellen-flynn-time-for-the-new-district-courthouse-to-be-built-at-the-old-library-site.html/ News and views on Rockville, Maryland since 2007 Mon, 28 Feb 2011 21:01:44 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Frank Anastasi http://rockvillecentral.com/2008/01/contributor-opinion-by-mary-ellen-flynn-time-for-the-new-district-courthouse-to-be-built-at-the-old-library-site.html/comment-page-1/#comment-389 Frank Anastasi Fri, 25 Jan 2008 18:28:00 +0000 http://rockvillecentral.com/2008/01/24/contributor-opinion-by-mary-ellen-flynn-time-for-the-new-district-courthouse-to-be-built-at-the-old-library-site/#comment-389 How in the world can you say.."the concerns and opinions on construction at the old Library site have been voiced and addressed as completely as is practicable" ? IGNORED is more like it.><br/> <br/>For example, traffic and parking.<br/>Where do you think 500 cars a day (the official estimate)are going to park? Have you ever tried to drive up or down Washington St.? It is now usually lined with police cars for officers who are in court -- blocks away. With a new courthouse at the library site, all day long those cars will be driving around and around S. Washington St. and S. Adams St. looking for non-existing parking. These streets are substandard width, with residents parking on the streets because many of us don't have driveways. This will be a nightmare.<br/> <br/>I just keep going back to the fact that the Governor, who doesn't even live in Rockville and certainly has many more demanding matters to address, calls putting the courthouse at the Library site the "worst case of urban design malfeasance" ever. When you think about it, shouldn't his perspective carry a lot more weight than either yours or mine?<br/><br/>Another important concern has never been addressed - this urgent demand the court all of a sudden seems to have to be able to walk criminals from the existing, secure court complex across the street where the new courthouse would be. <br/> <br/>What "positive benefit" will this have on the "county's citizens who conduct business in this judicial quadrant on a daily basis"? Such as the elementary school children, and me and my neighbors? How in the world can you say..”the concerns and opinions on construction at the old Library site have been voiced and addressed as completely as is practicable” ? IGNORED is more like it.>

For example, traffic and parking.
Where do you think 500 cars a day (the official estimate)are going to park? Have you ever tried to drive up or down Washington St.? It is now usually lined with police cars for officers who are in court — blocks away. With a new courthouse at the library site, all day long those cars will be driving around and around S. Washington St. and S. Adams St. looking for non-existing parking. These streets are substandard width, with residents parking on the streets because many of us don’t have driveways. This will be a nightmare.

I just keep going back to the fact that the Governor, who doesn’t even live in Rockville and certainly has many more demanding matters to address, calls putting the courthouse at the Library site the “worst case of urban design malfeasance” ever. When you think about it, shouldn’t his perspective carry a lot more weight than either yours or mine?

Another important concern has never been addressed – this urgent demand the court all of a sudden seems to have to be able to walk criminals from the existing, secure court complex across the street where the new courthouse would be.

What “positive benefit” will this have on the “county’s citizens who conduct business in this judicial quadrant on a daily basis”? Such as the elementary school children, and me and my neighbors?

]]> By: UMUC http://rockvillecentral.com/2008/01/contributor-opinion-by-mary-ellen-flynn-time-for-the-new-district-courthouse-to-be-built-at-the-old-library-site.html/comment-page-1/#comment-388 UMUC Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:54:00 +0000 http://rockvillecentral.com/2008/01/24/contributor-opinion-by-mary-ellen-flynn-time-for-the-new-district-courthouse-to-be-built-at-the-old-library-site/#comment-388 I think both sites are acceptable and after reading this letter would agree that the old library site is the more appropriate. This building is for those that use it most such as lawyers, judges, police man, and other personnel. It would be most convenient for them to be located in the closest proximity to the other administrative/judicial buildings. ><br/><br/>I was originally excited about the Giant site because I believe that placing a new structure there in addition to a public park and an extended Maryland Ave, will do much to improve the area north of Beall. I live across Hungerford close the Giant site and I would like the City to use any means possible to get this area redeveloped, especially the large vacant building and parking lot. <br/><br/>Can our City find another use for the giant site? Can we just purchase it anyway and put a park in, put the roads in? I can imagine a large mixed use building like the current Arts and Innovation Center. I think this would be an excellent location for the much talked about science center as well as a civic center. I may be too naïve but these are just my two cents. Thank you.<br/><br/>Dave Roberson I think both sites are acceptable and after reading this letter would agree that the old library site is the more appropriate. This building is for those that use it most such as lawyers, judges, police man, and other personnel. It would be most convenient for them to be located in the closest proximity to the other administrative/judicial buildings. >

I was originally excited about the Giant site because I believe that placing a new structure there in addition to a public park and an extended Maryland Ave, will do much to improve the area north of Beall. I live across Hungerford close the Giant site and I would like the City to use any means possible to get this area redeveloped, especially the large vacant building and parking lot.

Can our City find another use for the giant site? Can we just purchase it anyway and put a park in, put the roads in? I can imagine a large mixed use building like the current Arts and Innovation Center. I think this would be an excellent location for the much talked about science center as well as a civic center. I may be too naïve but these are just my two cents. Thank you.

Dave Roberson

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