May 27, 2014

GOV. MALLOY: AFTER 40 YEARS OF PLANNING AND DISCUSSION, NEW COURTHOUSE TO BE BUILT IN TORRINGTON

(TORRINGTON, CT) - Governor Dannel P. Malloy today announced that the State Bond Commission will vote Friday on the final funding elements necessary for the new Litchfield County Courthouse project in Torrington. He also released a rendering of the new facility and announced the formal groundbreaking will occur in July.

"Though it's taken more than a generation, I'm proud that we could move this project forward and begin the necessary work of building a twenty-first century courthouse," Governor Malloy said. "By consolidating operations into one facility, we can save taxpayers time and make operations more efficient. Many people in this community have worked for years on this goal. We could not have gotten to this point without their tireless advocacy."

The Judicial Branch has been working to construct a new courthouse for the Litchfield Judicial District for nearly 40 years. The existing courthouse facilities in that district total about 39,000 square feet distributed over four locations. For a variety of reasons, a number of court cases must be reassigned to other district courthouses due to the inability of the current facilities to effectively serve the Litchfield District.

Commissioner Donald DeFronzo of the Department of Administrative Services (DAS), the agency responsible for design and construction of state facilities, stated, "After some 40 years of discussion and planning, DAS is pleased to partner with the Judicial Branch and the town of Torrington to finally move this project to the construction phase. This will be a state-of-the-art facility whose construction will provide a substantial economic infusion into the Torrington area, with some 1,400 construction jobs created."

The current sites from which court business will be transferred once the new courthouse is constructed and ready for occupancy include: the Geographic Area Courthouse at 80 Doyle Road, Bantam, which is a leased facility; the Judicial District Courthouse at 15 West Street, Litchfield; the Family Services Office at 40 Commons Drive, Litchfield, which is a leased facility; and the Juvenile Court at 410 Winsted Road, Torrington, also a leased facility.

Judge Patrick L. Carroll III, the Chief Court Administrator, said, "We're thrilled with today's announcement. No one can doubt the need for a new courthouse to serve the citizens of the Litchfield Judicial District and with the pending approval of construction funding by the Bond Commission the District will soon be home to the Judicial Branch's flagship courthouse, one with twenty-first century security, amenities and technology. Chief Justice Chase Rogers and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Governor Malloy, Commissioner DeFronzo and legislative leaders on both sides of the aisle for their steadfast support of the Judicial Branch."

This project will feature the consolidation and construction of a new 174,000 square foot Litchfield Judicial District Courthouse on Field Street in Torrington. The new courthouse will house civil, criminal, family and juvenile courts. Eight courtrooms, hearing rooms, judge's chambers and court support services will be included in the new facility. Additionally, 384 parking spaces would be provided onsite to accommodate current and future needs for visitors, judges and staff.

"As a legislator who has been supporting and working on the Litchfield County Courthouse project for many years, seeing that Governor Malloy has placed the project as the number one item on the Bond Commission's agenda for approval is a landmark development," State Representative Roberta Willis (D-64) said. "Not only will the $81.45 million project create or retain 1,424 construction related jobs and serve as an economic catalyst for the entire region, but a new Litchfield Superior Court will finally become a reality."

"This is an exciting time and a long time coming, for the residents of Torrington and the Northwest corner," said State Representative Michelle Cook (D-65). "This will help the local economy, create jobs, as well as revitalize a part of town that has been empty for far too long. I want to thank the Governor for the continued support of this project and look forward to ground breaking."

This project will create or retain approximately 1424 construction related jobs with a total project cost of more than $81 million.

This project has had a long and challenging path to fruition and the state agencies involved have had to overcome a number of problems and issues, including the siting of the project, the acquisition of the property and the final design of the facility. Staff at DAS and the Judicial Branch are pleased to be able to finally bring this project together and it is hoped that this facility will be an efficient and convenient place for court business to be conducted in Litchfield County for decades to come.

"I am very pleased to see this project move forward," said State Senator Chapin (R-30). "Many community members have worked extremely hard over the years to garner support for construction. The new courthouse will greatly benefit Litchfield County, modernize our justice system and spark economic development in Torrington. This is necessary and well deserved funding for our community."

"A new courthouse in Torrington will serve the entire region and add significant value to our community," said State Senator Witkos (R-8). "After many years of hard work advocating for the construction of this new courthouse, we are ready and excited for the project to start."

"We are inching ever closer to this project's conclusion, taking what once started as a pipe dream and turning it into a reality," State Representative Jay Case (R-63) said. "There is definitely a need for a new courthouse complex and whatever we can do to make this significant investment happen will benefit not just Torrington, but everyone within the judicial district and the region."

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For Immediate Release: May 27, 2014

Contact: Andrew Doba

Andrew.Doba@ct.gov

860-524-7308 (office)
860-770-8090 (cell)

Facebook: Office of Governor Dannel P. Malloy