Courthouse set for new look

State officials have appropriated nearly $124 million to replace the aging Los Angeles County Superior Courthouse in Glendale, a major project that officials said would create thousands of local jobs.

A new site for the building is to be determined, and the future of the current structure remains unclear, officials said, but the state Administrative Office of the Courts has set the completion date for spring 2015.

The new $123.9-million courthouse will replace the existing building at Isabel Street and East Broadway with a modern and secure facility for criminal, small claims and limited civil proceedings with eight courtrooms in more than 99,500 square feet.

State officials estimated that the project would create more than 3,000 jobs.

“The new Glendale courthouse will benefit not only court users, but the Glendale community as a whole,” said Philip Carrizosa, spokesman for the Administrative Office of the Courts. “These days, everybody could use more jobs.”

But at a time when the Los Angeles County Superior Court system is experiencing layoffs amid budget shortfalls, some local officials took issue with the timing of the large expenditure.

“What good would it be to build a new courthouse in Glendale and have no one to operate the courtrooms?” asked Allan Parachini, spokesman for county superior courts. “While we are grateful for the possibility of a new facility in Glendale, which is sorely needed, we have grave reservations about using money to construct facilities now when we’re going to be closing potentially almost 200 courtrooms because of layoffs.”

Given the breadth of budget shortfalls facing the state and county, it would make more sense to hold off for at least a couple of years until the fiscal landscape stabilized, he added.

“That money could be redirected temporarily to address operations needs,” Parachini said. “Once that period passes, we’re solidly in support of a new Glendale courthouse.”

The existing building was built in 1953, when Glendale’s population was about 95,000. It has since become more crammed, which was one reason it ranked high on court administrator’s list of projects, Carrizosa said.

“This one is, we’ve got to get going on this one immediately,” he said. “The courthouse is undersized, and there’s lots of security problems.”

The courthouse’s shortcomings are many. The existing structure lacks numerous accessibility improvements mandated by the Americans With Disabilities Act, and its small size poses problems for jury assemblies, Carrizosa said. Juries are often assembled in Burbank six miles away, and then brought in for Glendale trials.

“The new courthouse would give them a facility large enough to handle all the citizens called for jury service,” Carrizosa said.

The building also lacks a self-help center, forcing court users to turn to the nearest one more than 15 miles away for free legal advice. The current building also lacks public parking, forcing visitors onto surrounding streets or municipal garages. The new building will include more than 200 parking spaces, officials said.

“Parking is the biggest problem,” said Mark Martinez, who visits the courthouse frequently for an attorney-servicing company. “Other than that, it’s OK inside. The lines aren’t too bad, but parking is the biggest hassle every time I come here.”

The Glendale courthouse was categorized as “immediate need” for improvements, the highest designation by the Judicial Council, which is responsible for the administration of courthouses.

Additional improvements planned for the Glendale site include more jury deliberation rooms, larger line-staging areas, expanded in-custody holding spaces, attorney interview and witness waiting rooms, and a children’s waiting room.

The project was approved by the joint legislative budget committee and the State Public Works Board, with the money coming from the $5 billion appropriated last year for court renovations.