Post on 18-Jan-2016
One Voice Central Texas
Civil & Family Courts Complex
June 18, 2015
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Importance of the Court System
The provision of safe, secure, accessible and functional facilities to house the Courts is a
mandated obligation of the Commissioners Court.
The first duty of society is justice.
-Alexander Hamilton
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Growth Demands – Travis County
= Population25,000 people
20351,631,951
20151,158,281
2000812,280
193077,777
2015 Need318,000 sf
2035 Need509,000 sf
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Heman MarionSweatt Courthouse
93,000 sf
2025 Need453,000 sf
Projected Space Needs
= 10,000 sq. ft.
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Designed for 3 courtrooms (1931)
- Now houses 19 courtrooms
- Current need: 24 courtrooms
Three expansions since opening
- 1958, 1962, and 1964
The building still has significant deficiencies.
Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse
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HMS – No Family and Children-Focused Spaces
No Child drop-off area
No designated safe areas for children
No calming rooms
No space for private testimony by children
No family restrooms
Limited changing stations
Mecklenberg Courthouse, Charlotte, NC Children’s Waiting Room
Child and Grandmother waiting on stairwell in HMS.
Travis County waiting room for children attending CPS hearings
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Crowded conditions creates stressful environment
Existing layout forces opposing parties into close-quarters
No dedicated victim waiting areas
No holding cells for inmates
No separate, secure corridors for Public, In-Custody & Judges
Existing HMS Courthouse Security Weaknesses
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ADA Compliance Issues
Insufficient Access to Justice
Space in elevator is not wide enough for individuals with disabilities (crutches,
wheelchairs, etc.)
Steps located throughout HMS limit wheelchair access in the courtrooms and public restrooms.
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Insufficient Access to Justice
Uneven ramp surfaces in front of HMS
Steep ramp located behind HMS
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Courthouse Overcrowding
Overcrowded hallways lead to disruptive noise that can interfere with in-session court hearings
Unsafe and potential fire hazard
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Current space limitations
ADA compliance issues
Inadequate jury facilities
Inefficient courtroom layouts
Degraded infrastructure
Costly to maintain
Lacks technology capabilities
Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse Deficiencies
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Why Downtown?
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Historic Location
1839 Plan of the City of Austin – the ‘Waller Plan’
1855 Travis County Courthouse on CFCC site
The Civil & Family Courts Complex will be on site originally planned to house the Courthouse dating back to 1839
The first Courthouse occupied the site with a jail from 1855 to 1874
The Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Courthouse has been in continuous use since June 1931
N
CFCC Site
N
Accessibility
Access to 54 bus routes for families & commuters
Nearby commuter rail Adjacent to new
bikeway Pedestrian friendly
streets Nearby overflow
public parking Minimizes creation of
additional car trips
Civil and Family Courts Complex
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Concept
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Courthouse Concept
14 stories 270-feet tall 520,000 gsf 4 level, underground
garage 513 parking spaces Secured Judicial
parking Oriented to
complement park Public views of park Flexible & Efficient LEED Silver Allows for future
expansion building
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Circulation Zones
Public
In-Custody
Judicial
1818
CFCC
Future Expansion Space
Great Streets Profile
Drop Off
Public EntryN
CFCC Project Site
Service and Vehicle
Entrances off San Antonio
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Program Budget
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Preliminary Program Budget
Program Total (Recommended Bond Amount)Includes - Construction Costs, Owner’s FF&E and Misc.
$ 291,600,000
Preliminary Program Budget
Budget predicated on November 2015 Bond Referendum
Estimated
impact of $42
on annual tax
billBased on a Travis County home with a 2015 assessed value of
$325,000
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Why Now?
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Safety & Security- Escalation of violence around
family court proceedings
- Lacks separation of victims & perpetrators
- Overcrowded conditions
Cost of Construction & Money- Historically low interest rates
- Increasing construction costs
Why Now?
No spaces for children- Increase in CPS & family cases
- No child drop-off area or designated safe areas for children
- No calming rooms
- No space for private testimony by children
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newtraviscountycourthouse.com
CFCHinfo@traviscountytx.gov
traviscounty.gov/planning-budget/srp
Project Contact Information
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Q&A Session
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Departmental space program approved
Space for departmental and court growth through 2035
28 courtrooms (initial build out); 33 courtrooms (2035)
Offices for 35 judges
Higher trafficked departments and courts on lower floors
Occupants
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CFCC Level - 01
2-Story Atrium
N2-Story Space Increases Usability
Elevated Security Station
Covered Porticoand Outdoor Area
Safe Waiting / Non-Profit Support or Potential Retail
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Typical Court FloorMultiple meeting
spaces/conference rooms
N
Jury Deliberation Rooms
Public Seating in corridor
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Parking Level - P1
Level Secure Standard
Level P1 35 49
Level P2 0 142
Level P3 0 161
Level P4 0 161
Total 35 513
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TC Staff Zoned Parking (10% staff oversell assumed)
- Current trends at 700 Lavaca St. most comparable
- 100% guaranteed availability of parking to all permit holders with 40% oversell
- Public capacity still available
Stall turn-over creates capacity
Erratic demand
- Not industry standard to build parking for peak periods
- 4,000+ spaces of public garage parking & 300+ on-street spaces within 3 blocks
Parking Considerations
Overflow Public Parking Areas in 3-Bock Radius of CFCC
N
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Shading Analysis
Winter Midday
Summer Midday
Auction Oaks not shaded by CFCH - April 10th – September 1st
6-hrs of continuous sunlight - March 10th – October 12th
Only impact occurs during winter months when trees are dormant
N
N
N
CFCCAllowable Development
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Potential TC Policies To Help Alleviate Demand
- Bus vouchers
- Off-site parking for jurors
- Off-site parking for staff
- Parking operations
o Validation
o Payment for public
• Day use
• Evening & weekend
Operational Policies
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Regional Courthouse Comparison
Given location and timing of construction,CFCH passes Test of Reasonableness.
South Atlantic$ 377
East North Central$ 353
Mid-Atlantic$ 353
Pacific$ 875
Mountain$ 360
West South Central$ 451
Travis County CFCC$ 447
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CFCC Economic Impacts
Direct Impacts
Short Term:1,574 new jobs$278M to local economy
Long Term:266 new long-term jobs
$32M to local economy
Total EconomicImpact:
$502M*
Short Term:2,840 new jobs
Long Term:371 new long-term jobs
Indirect and Induced Impacts
Short Term:1,266 new jobs$174M to local economy
Long Term:105 new long-term jobs$12.5M to local economy
CFCC Economic “Ripple Effects”
Short Term = 3 YrsLong Term thru 2035
* NPV in 2015 Dollars