New ideas for the old Nueces Courthouse
One developer's idea: Make it a law school
By Beth Wilson Caller-Times
April 3, 2007
Dan Judson, of Judson Partners, said the idea is just conceptual, and future studies would determine the best use for the building that has been vacant since 1977.
The site of many historic courtroom battles could become a training ground for lawyers and judges of the future under a local developer's plans to turn the old Nueces County Courthouse, which was completed in 1914, into a law school.
"We know the county doesn't have the funds or any real desire to do this," he said. "We're looking at it as a purely private venture. We buy the building and we fix it up." 
Judson has not formalized plans to establish a law school in Corpus Christi, nor has he gotten a commitment from an existing school to open a campus here.
Commissioners will consider Judson's plan during a presentation Wednesday.
Commissioner Peggy Banales put the item on the commissioners' agenda.
Judson, owner of Ocean Drive Marina, has presented reuse plans to the city for Memorial Coliseum, including such ideas as an indoor market and restaurant and placing the Columbus ships under its green roof.
The city recently announced its plans with another developer to bring an amusement park to the bayfront site had fallen through.
If the county is interested in selling the building, Judson said his group and investors would determine what should be in the building and bring in the money to make that happen. He estimates renovations could cost between $9 million and $11 million.
The old courthouse, near the Harbor Bridge, received a $2.85 million exterior renovation of its south wing last year.
"The courthouse is a very beloved building by a lot of people, but in so being beloved, there are still issues we need to be aware of," she said. "And we don't want to use taxpayer money, if we can help it, to do what we need to do."
Banales said she'd like to see the courthouse keep its historical credibility and be useable. That could then stimulate economic growth for the downtown area, which is in her precinct, she said.
County Judge Loyd Neal said the county has been committed to spending money on the fairgrounds complex in Robstown and will have to consider other capital needs, like repairs to the jail and the occupied courthouse, as it goes into the next budget cycle.
The building can't be demolished until 2025 because of a deed restriction placed on the building when the county accepted grants from the Texas Historical Commission. The commission also prohibits any exterior changes, and would likely be involved in any reuse plans.
Commissioner Chuck Cazalas agreed that taxpayers shouldn't foot the bill for restoration, and said the county should find a private sector partner for the project.
"If it turns from an eyesore into an asset for the community, than I would be 100 percent behind it," he said.
Commissioners Oscar Ortiz and Betty Jean Longoria said they are open to ideas for the old building, and may consider putting in some county funds.
"Right now as it's sitting there, it's just deteriorating, so we need to at least be open to any suggestions," Ortiz said.
Community donations and county funds provided the local match of $950,000 for the $2.85 million renovation that was completed last year.
In 2005, commissioners declined to put up $1.76 million to match state grant funds to continue renovation. Cost for complete restoration has been estimated atas much as $30 million.
The latest plan called for turning the building into a science and technology museum, but funding for the idea never materialized.
Contact Beth Wilson at 886-3748 or HYPERLINK mailto:wilsonb@caller.com wilsonb@caller.com
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Friday, December 21, 2007
CHALLENGING THE DISTRICT JUDGE IN ALICE. D.A. also faces a candidate
Unconfirmed investigations by the Defenzor reveal that some attorneys are voicing discontent with Judge Terrell's rulings which may be quickly becoming a problem with the "Club" here in Corpus Christi who rely on favorable plaintiff venues like Jim Wells or Duval or Brooks Counties.
Intelligence reveals that attorney Craig Sico ("Club Member"), Bobby Bourlon of Alice officing at Cristina Soliz office by the Jim Wells County Courthouse and others are encouraging a well-established attorney David Towler, a resident of Alice who's office is in San Diego, Texas, to run against Richard Terrell. Judge Terrell hails originally from the southern part of Jim Wells County.
Interestingly Judge Terrell received overwhelming support from "Club members) including a one night fundraiser back in 2002 and "debt relief" parties for him from the Club. Now that he is dismissing many medical malpractice suits before they reach a jury for what defense attorneys contend are deficienies in the reports from experts that justify a lawsuit. Many politicos indicate that it would be very hard to topple Terrell and even an attractive and personable female candidate like Edie Gonzalez Lemon would have a hard if not impossible time (Gonzalez-Lemon lost to Terrell two election cycles ago when a vacancy was created by Judge Canales being forced off the bench after the sexual harassment scandals).
Elsewhere Armando Barrerra an attorney and brother of Chuck Barrera has thrown down the gauntlet and is running against D.A. Joe Frank Garza. Garza has been the longrunning D.A.
Things are heating up.
Posted by HOMERO VILLARREAL at 1:18 PM 0 comments
GUY WILLIAMS DURACELL CANDIDATE?
Once again Guy Williams is running for office. This time against longstanding judge Jose Longoria. Many have underestimated Judge Longoria's resolve. Many lashed out against him early in his judgeship as not being as poltiical correct or friendly to lawyers but rumor has it that Longoria has mellowed in his tenure and has been an increasingly effective judge.
Many detractors of Guy Watts say that he has shot himself in the foot by not playing ball and running in the right race as many Republicans wanted him to do. Sources indicate that he refused to heed warnings that if he did not stay on message and run the ads against Saldana as the Democratic candidate Fred Jiminez had done he would lose. He narrowly lost and used a campaign strategy and commericials that arguably created a disconnect.
This race would be his 4th attempt at office against Longoria. Previously he had ran for Court of Appeals, District Attorney against Carlos Valdez and recently in 2006 against Saldana. His running for the fourth time coupled with Republican fatigue may be in the negative column. On the other hand many lawyers have attacked Longoria on bar polls which rate him at the bottom as a judge. Still the polls by lawyers as one politicera was quoted as saying mean little: "Give me a break, the Caller Times has missed the mark on its endorsements over half the time and who cares what the lawyers think from a voters point of view, they are not to be trusted as we are seeing from the whole stories with Thomas J. Henry launching attacks against an Hispano who tried to help the Democratic party. Henry is a cannibal."
Time will tell as to whether or not Guy Williams can garner the support he needs or are the Republicans going to leave them the odd man out for his disobedience and lone wolf mentality towards politics? Will the Democratic Hispanics who grow increasingly aware of Republicans being as racially exclusive as always only using Hispanics for expediency?
Posted by HOMERO VILLARREAL at 12:56 PM 0 comments
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