The city that gave birth to the Massachusetts court system will remain the center of justice for communities North of Boston as the result of Monday's announcement committing the state to the construction and renovation of court facilities in Salem and three other communities.
The news, delivered by Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey at a press conference outside the historic Salem court complex on Federal Street Monday morning, represents a major milestone in the decade-long effort to secure funding for this work. It also ensures a major court presence in Salem — whose 1692 witchcraft trials resulted in the creation of what is now the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court — well into the 21st century.
More than tradition was involved in the effort to keep the courts here. They constitute an important source of economic activity in downtown Salem, attracting law offices and the many ancillary services that benefit from having judicial personnel and records close at hand.
That link will be maintained as a result of the governor's decision to make the Salem project part of his $1.28-billion capital budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Preliminary design of the new complex by the respected architectural firm of Goody Clancy is already underway, and state officials have expressed a desire to put it on the fast track that could result in completion before the end of 2009.
According to Healey's announcement, the new court complex, which legislators had earlier decreed should be named for longtime Salem state representative J. Michael Ruane, will include the existing Probate Court building, the First Baptist Church and 1979 county government building on either side of it, as well as 185,000 square feet of new space. It will house 16 courtrooms and office space for use by the Superior, Probate & Family, District, Juvenile and Housing courts.
Many from both the private and public sectors were instrumental in convincing the Romney administration of the need for new court facilities and the wisdom of locating them in downtown Salem. For the past several years, the Salem Partnership, which includes many of the city's top employers, had made the project its top priority. Those instrumental in making the city's case on the public side included, besides Ruane, Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry, new Salem state Rep. John Keenan, Mayor Stan Usovicz and Robert Cornetta, the first justice of the Salem District Court.
Though funding for the project was authorized some years ago, it still needed the go-ahead from the governor's office which Healey provided Monday.
Not that this job is by any means complete. Critical to the new complex is the long-awaited new parking facility that will serve both the courts and the MBTA's commuter rail depot across the street. Design and construction of this facility, along with pedestrian-friendly access across Bridge Street, should be done in tandem with the courthouse work.
And both the city and state must work to find appropriate uses for the historic Superior Court buildings and new district courthouse that will not be part of the regional justice center.
Monday's announcement represents recognition at last, however, of the importance of providing facilities that are in keeping with the very important role the courts play in our society.
The city that gave birth to the Massachusetts court system will remain the center of justice for communities North of Boston as the result of Monday's announcement committing the state to the construction and renovation of court facilities in Salem and three other communities.
The news, delivered by Lt. Gov. Kerry Healey at a press conference outside the historic Salem court complex on Federal Street Monday morning, represents a major milestone in the decade-long effort to secure funding for this work. It also ensures a major court presence in Salem — whose 1692 witchcraft trials resulted in the creation of what is now the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court — well into the 21st century.
More than tradition was involved in the effort to keep the courts here. They constitute an important source of economic activity in downtown Salem, attracting law offices and the many ancillary services that benefit from having judicial personnel and records close at hand.
That link will be maintained as a result of the governor's decision to make the Salem project part of his $1.28-billion capital budget for the fiscal year that began July 1. Preliminary design of the new complex by the respected architectural firm of Goody Clancy is already underway, and state officials have expressed a desire to put it on the fast track that could result in completion before the end of 2009.
According to Healey's announcement, the new court complex, which legislators had earlier decreed should be named for longtime Salem state representative J. Michael Ruane, will include the existing Probate Court building, the First Baptist Church and 1979 county government building on either side of it, as well as 185,000 square feet of new space. It will house 16 courtrooms and office space for use by the Superior, Probate & Family, District, Juvenile and Housing courts.
Many from both the private and public sectors were instrumental in convincing the Romney administration of the need for new court facilities and the wisdom of locating them in downtown Salem. For the past several years, the Salem Partnership, which includes many of the city's top employers, had made the project its top priority. Those instrumental in making the city's case on the public side included, besides Ruane, Senate Majority Leader Frederick E. Berry, new Salem state Rep. John Keenan, Mayor Stan Usovicz and Robert Cornetta, the first justice of the Salem District Court.
Though funding for the project was authorized some years ago, it still needed the go-ahead from the governor's office which Healey provided Monday.
Not that this job is by any means complete. Critical to the new complex is the long-awaited new parking facility that will serve both the courts and the MBTA's commuter rail depot across the street. Design and construction of this facility, along with pedestrian-friendly access across Bridge Street, should be done in tandem with the courthouse work.
And both the city and state must work to find appropriate uses for the historic Superior Court buildings and new district courthouse that will not be part of the regional justice center.
Monday's announcement represents recognition at last, however, of the importance of providing facilities that are in keeping with the very important role the courts play in our society.