The structures on the site of Forsyth County’s future new courthouse and jail in downtown Cumming will begin coming down next week.Preparation work is under way, with demolition expected to begin as early as Monday, weather permitting. Once started, the process likely will last about 45 days.The structures to be demolished include the parking deck at East Main and Mason streets, and adjacent buildings across Veterans Memorial Boulevard from the existing courthouse.A small building on the site of the new jail will also be razed.The new courthouse and jail projects were approved by voters in November 2011 as part of a special purpose local option sales sax, or SPLOST, program.During the work, passers-by can expect to see a lot of activity. Work is scheduled to occur from about 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sidewalks near the site will close as needed throughout the course of the project.No extended road closures are expected, though intermittent lane closures on the streets surrounding the parking deck may be needed.At their Jan. 8 work session, county commissioners awarded the bid for the demolition to Industrial Facilities Solutions of Gainesville.“Forsyth County appreciates the patience of our citizens and others visiting downtown Cumming as the demolition phase of this project begins, and also going forward into the construction of the new courthouse and jail,” said County Manager Doug Derrer. The existing parking deck closed permanently Dec. 28. Jurors, traffic court visitors and others doing business at the current courthouse should use the parking lot at Maple Street and Castleberry Road.Parking areas for both the public and for county employees can be found at the County Administration Building.Additional weekday parking from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the public and for county workers includes marked spots at Cumming Baptist Church.A map of the parking locations is available online at www.forsythco.com.— Alyssa LaRenzie
The structures on the site of Forsyth County’s future new courthouse and jail in downtown Cumming will begin coming down next week.Preparation work is under way, with demolition expected to begin as early as Monday, weather permitting. Once started, the process likely will last about 45 days.The structures to be demolished include the parking deck at East Main and Mason streets, and adjacent buildings across Veterans Memorial Boulevard from the existing courthouse.A small building on the site of the new jail will also be razed.The new courthouse and jail projects were approved by voters in November 2011 as part of a special purpose local option sales sax, or SPLOST, program.During the work, passers-by can expect to see a lot of activity. Work is scheduled to occur from about 7 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sidewalks near the site will close as needed throughout the course of the project.No extended road closures are expected, though intermittent lane closures on the streets surrounding the parking deck may be needed.At their Jan. 8 work session, county commissioners awarded the bid for the demolition to Industrial Facilities Solutions of Gainesville.“Forsyth County appreciates the patience of our citizens and others visiting downtown Cumming as the demolition phase of this project begins, and also going forward into the construction of the new courthouse and jail,” said County Manager Doug Derrer. The existing parking deck closed permanently Dec. 28. Jurors, traffic court visitors and others doing business at the current courthouse should use the parking lot at Maple Street and Castleberry Road.Parking areas for both the public and for county employees can be found at the County Administration Building.Additional weekday parking from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. for the public and for county workers includes marked spots at Cumming Baptist Church.A map of the parking locations is available online at www.forsythco.com.— Alyssa LaRenzie