Dear Governor Healy,
As you are aware, there has been much public discussion about the proposed new Hampden County courthouse, to be located in Springfield. We write to express our concerns about, and unequivocal opposition to, the Liberty Junction site which has been chosen by your administration.
We believe there remain a number of unanswered questions and concerns regarding the Liberty Junction site, including, but not limited to, the actual cost to the taxpayers of Massachusetts of the lease and lease-related items, the availability of adequate parking, the size of the building lot, the request by the Commonwealth to reduce the size of the building itself, and the very serious questions about contamination at the site. In addition, there was no one from Western Massachusetts on the selection committee or involved in the selection process.
As the major tenants of the courthouse, which serves approximately 1600 people daily, we request that you reconsider the selection of the 125 Liberty site, as it does not serve the best interest of the taxpayers of Massachusetts, courthouse staff, and the hundreds of people who access the courthouse daily.
CC:
The Honorable Kimberley Driscoll, Lieutenant Governor, Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Adam Baacke, Commissioner, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance (DCAMM)
The Honorable Heidi E. Brieger, Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Trial Court
Thomas G. Ambrosino, Court Administrator, Massachusetts Trial Court
Jeffrey S. Shapiro, Inspector General, Commonwealth of Massachusetts