Underwhelming and disappointing. Those words sum up the reaction
to recently unveiled architectural plans for the Morgan Hill
courthouse.
Underwhelming and disappointing. Those words sum up the reaction to recently unveiled architectural plans for the Morgan Hill courthouse.
We’ve yet to hear from anyone in the community who thinks the plans by architecture firm Ross Drulis Cusenbery are appropriate for Morgan Hill. We’ve heard people comment that the buildings proposed – a two-story county courthouse and one-story office building complex – would be fine for Silicon Valley offices, or as a government building in downtown San Jose – but no one has said, “This is just right for Morgan Hill,” or, “These buildings evoke the rural nature of South Valley.”
The proposal from Ross Drulis Cusenbery is so far off the mark that we would wonder if the architects had ever been to South Valley if we hadn’t seen photographs of them sitting in Morgan Hill City Council Chambers.
So we’re left to assume that they neglected to study the significant structures in Morgan Hill. The city, which formed an Architecture Review Board in the last few years to ensure that all developers adhere to high design standards, prides itself on preserving its history. Morgan Hill officials spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to move and preserve the former Morgan Hill School, which now houses Carden Academy, and the former Temple Emmanuel church building, which now houses a small theater.
Contemporary buildings are carefully planned in Morgan Hill as well. The newly opened community center was thoughtfully designed in a Craftsman style to blend well with downtown and to take advantage of its site. The now-closed Saint Louise Hospital, less than 15 years old, is a beautiful facility the courthouse architects would do well to emulate.
It’s too bad we can’t say much nice about the courthouse plans.
Morgan Hill residents are spending $7 million of their Redevelopment Agency funds on the new county courthouse, which will replace the closed, mold-riddled South County Justice Center, now housed in portable buildings in San Martin. In return for their investment, Morgan Hill residents have been promised a beautiful facility that will enhance their community.
The current proposal doesn’t even come close to meeting that goal.
We encourage elected officials – from County Supervisor Don Gage to Morgan Hill Mayor Dennis Kennedy and the rest of Morgan Hill’s City Council – as well as city and county staff and the architects to craft a new design. Even if a new trip to the drawing board will add a few months to the project’s timeline, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Perhaps a tour of Morgan Hill, highlighting important newer, led by local history buffs, ARB members and knowledgeable city staff would be an important first step.
The courthouse will be a part of South Valley’s landscape for decades. Let’s take the time and make the effort to ensure the courthouse is a graceful, appropriate addition to the community.
