Aug. 1 could be D-day for Dame Shirley Plaza
By Debra Moore
The future of Dame Shirley Plaza could be decided as soon as Tuesday, Aug. 1.
During the portion of the Plumas County Board of Supervisors meeting when the supervisors discuss the correspondence that they have received from their constituents, Dame Shirley led their lists again today, July 18. After District 4 Supervisor Greg Hagwood mentioned Dame Shirley in his remarks, County Administrative Officer Debra Lucero told the board that she had received a letter from the state’s Judicial Council asking for the board’s input on Dame Shirley Plaza — did they support the site for the new courthouse or not. She said the item needed to be put on the next agenda and then discussed as to whether the council could move forward with the site or whether Dame Shirley would be withdrawn from consideration.
During last week’s board meeting, District 3 Supervisor Tom McGowan said he didn’t think the plaza was the right location for the new courthouse.
The other supervisors haven’t voiced an opinion publicly, but all have been contacted about the property. Today was no exception. Board Chairman Dwight Ceresola, who represents Eastern Plumas, said he has received comments that are both “pro and against” locating the courthouse on the plaza.
Now that it will be on the Aug. 1 agenda, the other supervisors’ preferences will undoubtedly be shared.
I am NOT in support of changing Dame Shirley Plaza’s function and purpose as a long time community gathering area. Dame Shirley is part of Quincy History – do not rewrite it so that our future children have no memory of what once was.
Absolutely ‼️‼️
While the impact of Dame Shirley on the history of Quincy may be nebulous, there is little doubt that she contributed significantly to chronicling life along the Feather River (Rich Bar) during the gold rush era. Nevertheless, let us not allow the works of this well written pioneer woman slip into obscurity beneath the footprint of a concrete monolith. Tempus fugit
Absolutely !
Please do NOT build the new courthouse in the Dame Shirley Plaza location.
As business owners and personal property owners, our reasons for not wanting the new courthouse in the Dame Shirley Plaza location include:
Unwelcome added noise pollution from another generator, and additional vehicles.
Loss of enjoyment of our property.
Guests’ experience will erode.
Decreased business and property value.
We don’t want to look out from our front porch to a parking lot, and the backside of a major institutional structure.
Courthouses that have been built in rural counties such as Plumas are smart looking, they
have no place in our historic downtown Quincy. The architecture will not blend with the historic architecture making up the downtown area. The Lawrence Street location is much better suited for something of this size and design.
We provide a much needed service to Quincy, and this will negatively affect our business and livelihood, and the quaint downtown experience visiting guests have come to expect. And it will negatively affect our own personal enjoyment of our home.
AGREED!
While I hope the proponents of saving the Plaza win out I also hope that they can understand the reasons the state will most choose that location and keep an open mind to other potential solutions. Should the State choose the Plaza I think that the county should make a demand that the state mitigate the loss of community space by purchasing the vacant lot on the corner of Coburn and Main and covering the costs of turning it into a shaded, green and vibrant community gathering space, with an amphitheater, lawn and parking along the alley.
Bruce, you mean Bradley and Main, where the Pizza Factory burned down years ago. It would be a small park. And not much parking.
I wish to declare the beauty of the historic downtown area, which provides “character”, a sense of place and a long-held soul connection for this culturally rich community.
Therefore, 1. the State has no right to tell this community what to do. Elected officials work for the community, which has a right to voice (and demand) its preferences, cost not being the deciding factor (excuse). 2. as a former planner/community development professional, I would like to offer my vision of a future downtown which includes a new courthouse at the Lawrence St location. A vibrant corridor/plaza/pedestrian zone connecting Lawrence to Dame Shirley has much potential for community gathering, foot traffic, additional business opportunities and art, enhancing (not disrupting) the historic character we wish to preserve.
Please pursue your vision and ideas with the Council!! Makes total sense and would be a major enhancement for the entire historic downtown Quincy to become a much more pedestrian/tourist friendly town, be visually inviting, and connect more of the businesses.
I am not for changing downtown The park is
Is a special spot. We have lost to much of our county natural beauty. Use Bradley and main for more space. Bring the Court house up to Code!
Why not use the Harlem Club site. A new beautiful Courthouse there would beneficial. I am a homeowner downtown and believe that a new business building and parking loss would just be a negative action. Instead of spending 15 million on solar panels up at the courthouse annex and putting in new LED lighting add these expenses to fix up what is already an eye soar in the community. Discussions of imminent domain and losing quant little homes downtown versus condemned buildings. The Board and its new CAO are discussing spending billions of dollars on broadband, new courthouses, shaded areas for courthouse annex, and solar panels and the list goes on and on. Why not give the county workers raises with all of these extra dollars instead of paying them minimum wages.
A new courthouse, presumably larger than the current courthouse (which could oust non court departments or the county to reclaim the courtroom space, but I digress…) would turn the only greenspace in town into a rigid, concrete, government mandated, lackluster facade in cement greeting visitors as they round the corner into town. They probably won’t demolish the existing (historic) structure to reclaim a greenspace either, but, again, I digress…
Tear down the National Guard Armory and do something with that space. There r so many other possibilities.