
                         THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
                 Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 2, 1994                    TAG: 9406020490 
SECTION: LOCAL                     PAGE: D4    EDITION: FINAL  
SOURCE: BY MAC DANIEL, STAFF WRITER 
DATELINE: 940602                                 LENGTH: SUFFOLK

COUNCIL: COURTHOUSE LIKELY TO BE DOWNTOWN

{LEAD} The city's new courts building will be located in the heart of downtown, if the price is right, the City Council announced Wednesday.

The surprise announcement ended months of speculation about where the new facility would go. Business owners in downtown Suffolk said locating a new courthouse anywhere other than downtown would be a major blow.

{REST} The announcement, made during the council's monthly meeting, was hailed by Thomas N. Waller, director of Suffolk's Department of Economic Development.

``It's going to lead immeasurably to the complete revitalization of downtown,'' he said. ``It's obviously a shot in the arm.''

Mayor S. Chris Jones said the city would now begin the process of acquiring the Main Street site, now occupied by shuttered Woolworth's and JCPenney stores. The city is also negotiating for land on Route 10 across from the YMCA as an alternative site if the downtown location proves too expensive.

The new building is expected to be 80,000 to 90,000 square feet and have seven courtrooms. The city has set a price of about $12 million for the new facility.

The current courthouse is both too small and too old, city officials as well as judges have said.

``Hopefully the process can begin within the next year,'' Jones said.

{KEYWORDS} SUFFOLK COURTHOUSE

by CNB