Ten years ago, Santa Fe county commissioners began discussing the need for a new courthouse for the First Judicial District, which includes Santa Fe, Los Alamos and Rio Arriba counties. In 2005, the commission voted to place the courthouse downtown. In 2006, commissioners put a $25 million general obligation bond to a vote by putting it on the ballot; the bond was passed by county residents in November 2006. The total budget for the project is $55 million with $25 million coming from the bond and the remainder from proceeds of the unobligated portion of the 1/16 percent gross-receipts tax.

The decision to place the courthouse downtown was influenced by a desire to benefit local residents with a centralized location, to augment downtown business with permanent courthouse staff and a constant flow of people into the area, and enhance the vitality of downtown as a hub of civic life. Downtown must be a place for all people of our community!

Those who have reacted negatively to the courthouse are a group of about 50 people. Yes, this is the "community" that keeps being referred to — a small group who have self-appointed "knowers" of what Santa Fe Style is all about. The voices that aren't heard are those of "the community" — the thousands of residents who support the idea of having a courthouse downtown. This is the community that wants to keep downtown "real." It probably means they believe a courthouse should be convenient to access and safe. We know that thousands of residents voted to support a bond issue for the courthouse. Our district judges have made their case of the necessity of a new courthouse that meets four basic criteria:

• Security — safe circulation patterns to maintain the security of judges, defendants, and the public by keeping them separate from each other; no public parking under the courthouse.
• Space — need a minimum of 8 courtrooms and 2 hearing rooms (103,000 sq. ft).
• Parking — enough public parking to enable access for everyone (at least 150 public parking spaces)
• Budget — $55 million allocated for the project

We must keep in mind that a courthouse is a special type of building with its own very special needs.

It has been suggested that a lawsuit might be pending. An attorney recently wrote county commissioners to criticize us for the size of the courthouse and giving his legal opinion of the reasons he believes the county is legally bound by the ordinance amendment he authored as a city councilor in 1992 that gave the Historic Design Review Board jurisdiction over heights in historic zones.

Below is a list of downtown buildings that currently exceed the ordinance's maximum height of 21'1":

Scottish Rite Temple — 68'1"; Federal Courthouse — 60'7"; Bull Ring — 59'6"; 125 Lincoln Ave. (next to Bull Ring) — 56'6"; Eldorado Hotel — 84'4"; Lensic Performing Arts Center — 77'; the old St. Vincent Hospital — 81'5"; La Fonda Hotel — 68'2"; Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — 78'; Inn at Loretto — 61'1"; Bataan building — 100'; Public Education building — 56'6"; 330 Garfield (across Tomasita's) — 54'8"; State Capitol Roundhouse — 63'3"; Runnels Building — 60'4"; Montoya building — 67'5"; Civic Center — 40'9."

Santa Fe County has invited public input from the beginning of this project and has benefited from the input. Our position has been that we are open to consider positive suggestions for change if the idea doesn't affect the functionality of the courthouse. And change we have. Twenty feet has been taken off the height of the courthouse (from 72' to 52'), the outer façade has been completely changed to reflect a "territorial" style, and the plaza has been redesigned. Our staff presented courthouse plans and designs to the Historic Design Review Board out of courtesy and respect.

I believe the public input has significantly improved the project, which we can all be proud of. The product will be a state of the art, energy efficient, LEED certified courthouse that is safe, secure, convenient to access, and a positive contribution to historic downtown Santa Fe.

Paul Campos is a Santa Fe county commissioner.