Must be a way to keep court here | Letters | Oct. 29

Published 1:50 pm Friday, October 29, 2010

No denying the odd building we currently use to house the court. But the big issue is strengthening our “sense of community,” our feelings of belonging and accessibility.

Keeping our court on the island strengthens our sense of community.

Squeezing the tax dollar may not be the only way to keep our court.

With all this design talent on Bainbridge, would architects and designers be willing to contribute a charrette to enhance and rearrange the current use of space?

What if the entrance was moved to the side and the hallway changed. Would builders contribute their talents to build it?

We could have a capital campaign to build a timber frame courthouse. Now that’s dreaming good!

Churches have learned to have multiple users for their spaces. Perhaps City Hall could also. With so many layoffs, surely there is more room at City Hall.

The chamber where the council meets would make an impressive courtroom. How many hours a week do we need a courtroom?

There is that new building construction on Winslow Way and 305, diagonally from the police station.

Maybe there is some unleased space in the buildings that could be adapted. What other space is now available due to the economy?

It would be unfortunate to send a large rental fee to Poulsbo every month and to inadvertently encourage people to spend money in Poulsbo since they are already there for court business.

Surely we can keep our court on the island.

Karla Zimmerman

Bainbridge Island