Council OK’s Project to Transform Courthouse

The South Gate Courthouse has been sitting vacant since being shut down in 2004 because of budget cuts. The  has voted unanimously to approve renovations that would turn into a community resource center if grant or non-government funding comes through.

“I now have permission to start looking for ways to renovate the building, for the purpose of bringing services, that are needed by the community,” said , city manager for the city of South Gate, who is currently spearheading the project  with the help of volunteers. “The city has allowed [the courthouse] to be used for that purpose. ”

Troxcil said it was still too early to say what services would be provided at the center. Stating that the parties involved would ensure the best use of this space with further study.

 “The spread of services that could be provided in [the courthouse] are very broad,” said Troxcil. “We are going through a strategic plan that will identify the needs and uses of the community.”

Providing a space where residents could find work related information, and attend workshops on job-hunting techniques, are just a couple of the resources that could be provided in this place, said Troxcil. 

Members of the City Council expressed their approval for finding a use for this building. The halting of the continued deterioration of the courthouse was a cause of concern for Vice-Mayor Gil Hurtado.

“This is an opportunity to do something with it,” said Hurtado, who was appointed Vice-Mayor, for a period of one year, during the same evening. “[To] not tallow it to continue to deteriorate.” 

Councilmember Maria Davila also cited the utility and high chances of creating a resource center when speaking in support of the project.

“I think this is something we can actually work on,” said Davila. “[To] make sure that this community has a place where they can get resources.”

Troxcil is optimistic about finding funds for this project, but estimates that it will take close around two years to complete, because of the difficulty of attaining grants for construction.

“There is a difficulty in getting grant funds for infrastructure,” said Troxcil. “I can get grants for programs, equipment, and staffing, but  we need to redo the inside [of the courthouse].”

Keep up with South Gate Patch Latino by subscribing to breaking news alerts, liking us on Facebook and following us on Twitter. Have an event or announcement you'd like to publicize? Submit them for free.