Seems we have another fight on our hands. Elsmere Canyon, Cemex, ring a bell? Now it’s the eight-story courthouse being forced on us in the middle of one of the best parts of town. From what I’ve read, many folks are as outraged as I am. Glad to see the City Council is willing to go to war as well. Looking forward to see Bill Miranda, Marsha McLean, Laurene Weste and Jason Gibbs chained to the front of the bulldozers. We need to fight because this cannot happen! I’m not writing just to (complain), though, but to offer a possible solution. If it must be here …
Another location is obvious. I’ve heard Golden Valley Road next to the new Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, but that means tons of grading, next to the sports complex and high school, and that eight-story building will look even higher sitting up on that hill. My suggestion is right out in front of Pitchess Detention Center, with all those acres of flat land right out in front. The best part is the county owns it already. One less expense for us. There’s enough room for covered parking so an expensive parking structure will not be necessary. Another massive savings for us. Set up a fancy Disneyland tram service for the parking lots and inmates, creating some jobs. Another plus. Now we have all these justice facilities neatly organized in one location, not spread out all over the place. Incoming traffic stays on the freeway to mandatory exit at the roundabout at Hasley Canyon, maybe another (few) miles farther north on I-5. Less traffic for us on our already congested roads. The pluses keep adding up. Yay! The eight stories won’t be too out of place, much nearby are a hotel and business’s of similar heights.
Security should be excellent. Chain link fences with razor wire, deputies everywhere, orange jumpsuits, sirens, freeway warning signs, phone warnings and one of the most-traveled 10-lane freeways to cross to the west. To the east you got fence, rattlesnakes, mountain lions, coyotes, all up in the hills waiting for you to try. We could change the name to Pitchess Rattlesnake Reformatory. It’s all there already. More savings for us. Utilities should be a breeze. Nothing in the way. Maybe ask the California Department of Transportation to widen the bridge and install the parking lots, and guess what. They’re doing some work right next door with all the equipment necessary right now. If we offer them extra to their contract, we can get a good deal, saving more money!
The structure had better be beautiful architecturally. Maybe even put in a ninth floor for a nice restaurant with a 360-degree view for all the judges, attorneys and anyone else to enjoy. That’s probably why they wanted it next to the mall to begin with. What the heck, we saved so much on the parking structure and property, we can do a little extra. If we’re nice to them, maybe they won’t let so many criminals back on us in a couple hours.
Situate the structure so one side faces the freeway on the north and a good view on the west. Then install digital signs to welcome folks into our valley on the side of the building, telling of events, nice restaurants, movies at the mall, down-home hospitality and history over on Main Street, etc. Put in a tall tower on top and somebody make a crystal ball to drop on New Year’s Eve, for all of the folks to enjoy all their front or back yards. West Coast New Year’s celebration! I pray we have many good years to come.
So anyway, that’s my common-sense worth. If it has to be here, let’s make the best of it as much as we can!
Ray Hegge
Newhall
