Friday, Dec. 14, 2001 | 8:43 a.m.
Two local law firms that had considered leaving downtown for the suburbs will break ground on a $12 million office building just blocks from the federal courthouse.
The firms this afternoon planned to break ground on Pioneer Plaza, a four-story law office at Fourth Street and Clark Avenue, which will also house a high-tech court reporting firm.
The law office is the third redevelopment project of its kind in the downtown area in less than a year, the result of Mayor Oscar Goodman's efforts to court lawyers and foster downtown redevelopment.
In October, city officials celebrated the opening of City Centre Place, a six-story office building at the corner of Fourth Street and Lewis Avenue, built by The Pauls Corp. In February, the law firm Mainor & Harris plans to open its 27,000-square-foot building at Gass Avenue and Fourth Street.
"I'm excited about it," Goodman said of Pioneer Plaza. "When I was first elected mayor, all the lawyers were moving out of downtown. "I think I got the message across that downtown is the place to be."
The more than 70,000-square-foot Pioneer Plaza will house 200 employees. Also, valet parking will be available, a first for a downtown law office.
Jamie Chrisman of the firm Barker, Brown, Busby and Thomas said he had considered leaving downtown, but a major reason for staying revolved around the desire to be within walking distance of the federal courthouse and the Regional Justice Center.
Chrisman will be joined by the law firm of Haney, Woloson and Mullins, whose offices will be on the second floor. The building will house other private attorneys and two legal support firms.
"We've been longtime downtown residents, and it's actually been sad seeing the lawyers' flight from downtown," Chrisman said. "We just don't think you can be a real litigator unless you're within walking distance from the courthouse. And our clients feel the same way."
Chrisman said he began pursuing the idea of building a new office before Goodman was elected, but experienced difficulties with former officials at the redevelopment office. However, Chrisman said positive changes have occurred since Lesa Coder took over redevelopment efforts.
According to the development agreement, the city exchanged the property at Fourth and Clark for land at the corner of Third Street and Hoover Avenue. The city is also contributing $300,000 toward the cost of public improvements, such as sidewalks and landscaping.
Chrisman said the firms would not have made a $12 million investment in the building if they did not believe in Goodman's efforts to revitalize downtown.
"This is something that we had to have a lot of faith in before we could go and do this," Chrisman said. "And we do have that faith. I think downtown is going to turn around very soon. It's on its way, but really, the opening of the new courthouse will start a flood of attorneys coming back downtown."
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