The Sheriff’s office could use more space,
and VSU would like a research center downtown.
For context, videos of the other hearings, and the Committee’s report,
see
Courthouse Preservation Committee Meetings.
Tag Archives: Lowndes County Historical Courthouse Preservation Committee
More ideas on day 2 @ Courthouse 2014-06-10
When a local goverment-appointed committee actually asks the people what they want, sometimes the people speak up, this time mostly about education as a driver for the local economy, plus the Public Defender’s Office. For context, see Courthouse Preservation Committee Meetings.
Continue readingVideos: Courthouse Preservation Committee Hearing #1 @ Courthouse 2014-06-09
SCAD or VSU?
Historical Society or Public Defender?
Business incubator or state offices?
Outside and inside.
These and other ideas were brought up in the first of
three Courthouse Preservation Committee meetings, 9 June 2014.
Baha Zeidan and Varian Brown wanted a business incubator. Judge Ellerbee said the way the courthouse got into a mess in the first place was people wanting to use it for many things in addition to courtrooms, and he suggested not going the same route again. Pat Sullivan suggested bringing in SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) and having them design the building before renting it as a local campus. Stanley Cox seconded that. Sullivan even volunteered his oldest downtown Valdosta building, home of ClientTell, for planning meetings. Gretchen Quarterman said to be sure Valdosta Farm Days, Juneteenth, and all the other courthouse lawn events still can happen in conjunction with whatever happens inside, G. Norman Bennett said it would be a natural location for the Historical Society. Glenn Gregory told stories of historic preservation and suggested VSU, state offices, or the Public Defender, plus he noted there’s another courthouse by the same architect, in Abbeville, GA. They even let somebody speak who hadn’t signed up: Valdosta Mayor John Gayle, who cautioned that the longer it sits, the more it deteriorates.
Here are links to each video, followed by a playlist. Continue reading
Courthouse Preservation Committee Meetings
At different times of day so people with different work schedules can attend, and actually asking for suggestions: you can tell these meetings were organized by Judge McClane, not by the Lowndes County Commission.
Update 2015-03-21: Videos of Hearing 1, 9 June 2014, videos of Hearing 2, 10 June 2014, videos of Hearing 3, 12 June 2014, and Committee Report 12 January 2015.
On the county’s front page:
The Lowndes County Historical Courthouse Preservation Committee will host a series of public input meetings, beginning next week. The meetings are being held in an effort to gather any ideas citizens may have regarding possible future uses for the historic Lowndes County Courthouse. Once the information is gathered, the committee will present their recommendations to the Board of Commissioners. Next week’s meeting schedule is as follows: Monday, June 9, 6:00 p.m.; Tuesday, June 10, 3:00 p.m.; Thursday, June 12, 1:00 p.m. All meetings will be held in Commission Chambers, Lowndes County Administrative Building, 327 North Ashley Street, Valdosta. For more information, please contact Amanda Smith, at 229-671-2400 or asmith@lowndescounty.com.
These meetings are also listed in the county’s calendar, but if you click on any of them you get a blank page.
The VDT has more details today, Continue reading