City and county officials have agreed on a possible design for a $13 million state courts building that would mesh with the historic character of downtown 25th Street.
The Ogden City Council and Weber County Commission on Tuesday approved an architectural drawing indicating the six-story building would be terraced so that the first two floors are about 20,000 square feet each, and the upper four stories about 12,000 square feet apiece.That way, the ground-level story facing 25th Street would have no landscaping and would abut the sidewalk like other buildings on the historic street.
The design could include either surface parking or a three-story parking terrace. The terrace, with one story below ground and two above ground, would cost about $2.1 million and house 300 cars.
However, plans for the building are not finalized, and state officials have not determined whether the courthouse can be built to complement the old buildings on lower 25th Street.
"We're not sure this stepping or terracing will work," said Gordon Bissegger of the state courts administrative office.
The drawing approved Tuesday was presented in response to concerns of 25th Street property owners, who fear the courts building will dwarf other structures and ruin the gateway to the historic district.
The Legislature has appropriated $700,000 for land acquisition and demolition for the courts building and will be asked next year to fund $13 million for construction. If approved, the courthouse could open in about two years.