Two excavators devoured parts of the old Plant City Courthouse May 22, off North Michigan Avenue. The demolition began about a week prior and is scheduled to be finished by the end of June.
Planning began about one month ago, including securing the area with a chain-link fence. Behind the fence sits piles of debris and, in some places, walls that refuse to come down. With missing letters, a dilapidated sign that reads, “Hillsborough County Office Building,” clings to one of these walls.
“A lot of us have a sentimental attachment to the old building,” lawyer David Barnhill said.
Barnhill said many of the younger lawyers in town had their first cases in the old courthouse. He recalls his own, which was in small claims court.
The Plant City County Courthouse was built in 1950. Located next to a Kwik Chek and Winn Dixie, the location was bustling with activity.
Former Plant City Mayor Dick Elston was there for its dedication.
“We didn’t have anything in Plant City at the time,” Elston said. “Everyone had to go all the way to Tampa.”
The health department was built in 1958, on the north side of the courthouse, only adding to its heyday. In 1970, an expansion was added to the back side of the courthouse.
At one point, the property appraiser and tax collectors office also were located on the site but have since moved.
Bill Hand, the project manager of the demolition, said he can still see remnants of a segregated bathroom from when the courthouse was first built.
“It’s amazing to see that,” Hand said. “But with older buildings like this, it’s not uncommon.”
Despite being decorated with local art that ranged from quilt designs and stained-glass windows, the courthouse aged. Although there was no special remediation needed for the demolition or any asbestos found, the building leaked and was too small for Plant City’s growing population.
“The new building is definitely an upgrade,” Barnhill said. “The new building is a lot nicer. It’s more modern; it’s more convenient.”
The new courthouse is nearly twice the size of the old one and features four courtrooms, a mediation suite and a larger clerks office. It also has more holding areas for alleged perpetrators.
Hand and his team have managed to salvage some of the art from the old courthouse. They also saved the original dedication plaques from its opening. Currently, the memorabilia is being stored in the new courthouse. The plan is to put the items on display.
During the demolition, Hand ran into one interesting problem. A 120-foot communication tower was located on-site. The team discovered an osprey had been nesting in it. The nest pushed the project back, as the team waited for it to finish. They then built an osprey nest platform in its place.
While the demolition was on hold, Plant City firefighters used the building for search-and-rescue training for about three weekends.
Once the demolition is complete, a new parking lot will be built for the new courthouse and service center. Hand anticipates the project to be completed by May 2014 and cost about $1.5 million.
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
