Chatham County Courthouse rebuilds after fire

This story appeared as part of the 2010 Year In Review issue. The Daily Tar Heel resumes publication Jan. 10.

Although restoration plans for a fire-gutted courthouse are under way, they might be subject to change after new county leadership takes office.

The Chatham County Board of Commissioners approved recommendations about the restoration of the county courthouse in Pittsboro during its Nov. 1 meeting based on community input and a task force’s report.

But with three new commissioners sworn in Monday, plans could change, said Debra Henzey, spokeswoman for the Chatham County Manager’s Office.

The courthouse was damaged by a fire in March, forcing the county to find temporary locations for superior court and some government offices.

Some files from the district attorney’s office were also destroyed by the blaze.

The current recommendations direct that the courthouse retain its second floor superior courtroom and offices for court staff. One or more museums and a visitors’ center will be added to the first floor, according to a press release.

The courtroom will have updated technology to be used for other community events.

But Assistant County Manager Renee Paschal said a new judicial center in downtown Pittsboro will replace the courthouse as the primary superior court in Chatham County when it opens.

The judicial center — which Henzey said will be funded by a $25 million federal loan — will contain judicial offices and another courtroom. Higher security cases will be heard at the new courtroom at the center.

“Sometimes trials go on for a long period of time and that creates a back log,” Henzey said. “We’re going to put less risky trials in terms of security in the old courthouse as overflow space.”

Henzey said the next step in the historic courthouse’s renovation is designing a plan and hiring an architect.
So far, an airtight temporary roof has been put on the building, and the windows have been covered and heating restored.

It is unclear when the old courthouse will reopen, but the design process will take several months and construction at least an additional year, Paschal said.

District Attorney Jim Woodall said many residents see the courthouse and the traffic circle as an official symbol of the town and county and are anticipating the restoration.

“Everybody had a story of having some attachment to that courthouse or going there for some memorable event in their life,” he said. “The loss of the structure caused a lot of sadness.”

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