Anderson's hopes for $211 million county courthouse withering fast

Anderson's bid for the new $211 million Shasta County Courthouse appears to be withering on the vine, although city officials have yet to give up all hope for their proposal involving free land.

A letter received by Anderson City Manager Dana Shigley on Thursday, Oct. 27, states, in part, "Unfortunately, the AOC (Administrative Office of the Courts) has elected not to pursue your site any further at this time."

The letter was signed by Ken Miller, a Redding-based real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Commercial, C&C Properties, who was hired by the site selection committee.

"Until we hear from the AOC directly or they make an announcement that they have selected a site, we are trying to remain positive," Anderson Mayor Butch Schaefer said Friday, Oct. 30. "I think we still have a chance. Meanwhile, we can take pride in the fact that we have done something that Anderson has never done before this, and that is to be as proactive as we have been," Schaefer added.

City Manager Dana Shigley echoed the Mayor's optimism.

"We're not giving up. We're not bailing until the AOC has selected a site," Shigley said. "We still believe the Anderson site is the best site. We are going to keep our nose in the process."

In March, developer Sam Tumino of Anderson offered to gift the AOC a vacant 6.5-acre to 7.5-acre parcel just east of Interstate 5 at the Sacramento River in north Anderson on which the state could easily construct a 173,000 square foot building housing 14 courtrooms, covered parking, court offices and secured hallways and holding areas for jail inmates awaiting trial.

The state's Project Advisory Group as well as the Court Working Group compared the Anderson site proposal to other alternatives provided to the Judicial Council of California's AOC for consideration and made their decision based on two factors: Distance from the Shasta County Jail, District Attorney's office and other entities labeled as Justice Partners; and excessive or unknown site development costs, Miller's letter indicated.

The City of Anderson "made one heck of a presentation," Miller said, although he referred all other questions to Lin Velarde, the AOC's senior real estate analyst.

Contacted in Sacramento, Velarde confirmed Friday, Oct. 30, that the AOC had originally been offered proposals on eight sites in Shasta County and has now narrowed its choices to five, all within the city of Redding.

By order of preference, Velarde said the five sites include two parcels directly adjacent to the existing Shasta County Courthouse, the former Casa Blanca Motel property at 413 North Market St., a vacant lot across from Michael's Business Furniture at 3650 Rancho Road and Airport Road, and a softball field at 900 Parkview Ave., directly across the street from Redding's branch of the Shasta Public Library.