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Kent court designers narrowed Portage whittles list of architects from 15 to five

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Mike Sever
December 4, 2009

By Mike Sever
Record-Courier staff writer
County officials have shortened to five the list of potential architects for a new Portage County Municipal Courthouse in Kent.
On Thursday, the Portage County Board of Commissioners selected five firms or partnerships to interview regarding their qualifications to build the proposed new courthouse.
The five firms selected to make presentations are: Brandstetter Carroll Inc. of Cleveland: Richard L. Bowen of Cleveland; Four Points Architects of Akron; Hasenstab Architects of Akron; and a partnership of local architects David L. Sommers and Theodore G. Manfrass with KZF Design of Cincinnati.
Commissioners hope to have the presentations made this month and decide on an architect early next year.
A total of 15 companies submitted applications for consideration out of 52 firms that had requested information on the project.
Plans are to replace the current courthouse, a former U.S. Post Office, on South Water Street. Kent officials have asked for the county’s commitment to build in the planned downtown redevelopment area.
The county has not committed to a specific location, but has it down to the block bounded by Haymaker Parkway, DePeyster and South Water streets and the alley that divides the redevelopment block.
Commissioner Chris Smeiles has said that adequate parking for employees and people who use the courthouse is a concern.




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   Next 10 Comments of 13 Total Comments
13.
    Posted by Mr. Destiny December 4, 2009
The PC GOBS will build this boondoggle and cut our sheriff's services and leave us unprotected. What a disgrace. Yet they do not care what we think. The arrogance of that astounds me.

12.
    Posted by MyThoughts December 4, 2009
Quit wasting our money on stupid ideas!! For goodness sakes the Tops Building has been empty for a very long time, has plenty of parking, bus stops, and is relatively newer.

Why don't our commissioners get their heads out of their butts and really think about this. If they feel it necessary to renovate the old court house/ post office, use it for something else. There is too much wasted potential in the Tops Plaza. And while they are at it.. if they insist on spending my money (which I'm sure that is were it is coming from), I want it to go someone local, better yet a host of local businesses. It needs to go back into our community, not outside of it.

11.
    Posted by shaden December 4, 2009
Hi guys. I am a TV reporter for TV2 at Kent State University. I am doing a video package about the new court house in Kent. I read your opinions about that very carefully and I would like to interview you for TV2.
If you are interested in that, please email me at sellakki@kent.edu or shaden84@hotmail.com or simply post a comment telling me that.

Thank you.

10.
    Posted by janm December 4, 2009
What in the hell is the matter with these people. Heaven forbid we do anything to help the peole of Kent. Also, I totally agree about Topps. It is almost completely blacked out at night now. This is very depressing especially knowing how stupid and selfish this city has become. Quit trying to impress KSU and do something for the rest of the city.janm

9.
    Posted by Fair Tax 1 December 4, 2009
I thought this whole new courthouse plan was put on hold because of funding issues. Don't be silly about the Tops location, it makes too much sense to build the courthouse there. The city of Kent wants all real estate development to be downtown.

8.
    Posted by The Good Gary December 4, 2009
The courthouse is on SOUTH Water Street, not North as stated in the article.

7.
    Posted by Chazz December 4, 2009
I agree with kent62 and Gary: Use the Tops location. It has good access and ample parking. Trying to cram a courthouse on that downtown block will take parking spaces away from retail customers and hurt businesses.

6.
    Posted by Gary December 4, 2009
The commissioners are clueless about every day people not having the income they have. The Tops building would be a perfect place. One of the complaints the Kent Court has is not enough parking--hum so let's build a new building and have the same problem.

5.
    Posted by s.swenson December 4, 2009
I'm curious if Portage County has a "Local Preference Policy" in place> In these tough economic times why are they going outside of Portage County to find architects are there none capable in Portage? Hire an outside firm and send all the monies outside of the area. If they were to give preference (and it's legal) many munincipalities give preference/bonus points to local venders/contractractors etc. Then the monies are more likely to be spent within the area of where the project is. I do see one local architect or partnership on the list.
Additionally, where is the money coming from to build this ? Why can't to save $ the County Commissioners go on a field trip of other newer courthouses built and find one that would fit in the area and purchase the plans of that exhisting building? Similar to what McDonalds, Wendy's, BurgerKing, Walmart do. They don't have to have a new set of plans for each building erected and it saves large amounts of money. Some areas are beginning to do this for schools as well. This is Portage County, money to burn!

4.
    Posted by kent62 December 4, 2009
What part of quit spending money foolishly don't the County Commissioners understand? We don't need a new building for the Courts in Kent. There is a perfectly good building where Tops was located with plenty of parking and easy access. It could be rentovated for a lot less than a new building would cost. Will someone please stop by the County Commissioners office and tell them there is a recession going on.

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