Should the courthouses in Upper Marlboro move too? (Baltimore, Ellicott City: high school, college)

[IVmyman]

Now that the county offices are moving to Largo, should the circuit and district courts move as well? If so where should they move to and what would you do with the campus in upper Marlboro?


At first I would say put the courthouses in Largo to continue with the downtown theme, but I am not sure if there will be any space left once the hospital is built. If it's closer to 202 then it seems like it will be a hike from the metro station. The federal courthouse is in Greenbelt along with some law firms, but that sits away from the metro station as well. New Carrollton may be an option as well. The other district court is in Hyattsville. Cost will be an issue I am sure moving them in addition to the county history of having the county seat in upper Marlboro.


As far as the buildings left in upper Marlboro I was thinking something like a college may work. Maybe a large specialty high school or something. Maybe make it a commercial and entertainment area.

[willow_hiller]

Largo is nice and centrally located. I know there are development plans for the area around the Boulevard at the Capital Center; would there be space near there?

In terms of "if" they should move, I saw this on GGWash earlier: https://ggwash.org/view/66362/half-o...t-to-jury-duty Seems like Largo would be a good choice to make the courts more accessible to more residents.

[North Beach Person]

Is the plan to designate Largo as the County Seat, that would seem to be the next step as county seats are defined as the administrative center of a county? The capital of a county as it were.

Keep in mind that if the Courts move you'll also have to have room for the bail bond guys to set up shop.

[IVmyman]

Originally Posted by willow_hiller

Largo is nice and centrally located. I know there are development plans for the area around the Boulevard at the Capital Center; would there be space near there?

In terms of "if" they should move, I saw this on GGWash earlier: https://ggwash.org/view/66362/half-o...t-to-jury-duty Seems like Largo would be a good choice to make the courts more accessible to more residents.

I think there would be space there, but i thought that space was already reserved for commercial and residential development though. The hospital will be huge though and i'm sure there will be medical offices built around it as well. I think Largo would be a good choice, but you would have to build up and tear down some of those single story commercial offices. Morgan Blvd is close by Largo, 1 metro stop away. That could work.

[IVmyman]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Is the plan to designate Largo as the County Seat, that would seem to be the next step as county seats are defined as the administrative center of a county? The capital of a county as it were.

Keep in mind that if the Courts move you'll also have to have room for the bail bond guys to set up shop.

Not sure if they want to change it but it would make sense if the county government and the courthouse is there. Yes, there would be a lot of legal businesses and law firms relocating to the area if that happened. It would go a long way in creating a viable urban place.

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by IVmyman

Not sure if they want to change it but it would make sense if the county government and the courthouse is there. Yes, there would be a lot of legal businesses and law firms relocating to the area if that happened. It would go a long way in creating a viable urban place.

In any event the Legislature would have to authorize any move of the Courts from Upper Marlboro. Good luck with that.

[Turnerbro]

DT Upper Marlboro is pretty sad these days. Wouldn't making Largo the county seat force it to become an incorporated city?

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by Turnerbro

DT Upper Marlboro is pretty sad these days. Wouldn't making Largo the county seat force it to become an incorporated city?

Not really. Prince Frederick is the county seat of Calvert and is unincorporated. Towson is unincorporated as is Ellicott City for Baltimore County and Howard County respectively. The rest of the county seats are incorporated.

The reason, or one of the reasons, downtown Upper Marlboro is "sad" is because it's basically been taken over by County government and activities related to it.

[Turnerbro]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Not really. Prince Frederick is the county seat of Calvert and is unincorporated. Towson is unincorporated as is Ellicott City for Baltimore County and Howard County respectively. The rest of the county seats are incorporated.

The reason, or one of the reasons, downtown Upper Marlboro is "sad" is because it's basically been taken over by County government and activities related to it.

True, for some reason I thought Prince Frederick and Ellicott City where incorporated. Anyway it's a shame DT Upper Marlboro has gone downhill. I remember when I was a kid it was awesome. Small town suburb seems like it should have some "hipster" appeal.

[lookingbutnotlost]

Yes. I think they would put more housing there.