The new Weld County judicial center will remain in downtown Greeley, around one block from its former location.

The Weld County Board of Commissioners on Monday unanimously approved the location of a new judicial center and a future administrative center with an estimated cost of around $490 million during a board meeting.

The new judicial center is expected to go on the proposed “West Block” site, following Monday’s vote. The location would be at 10th Avenue, across from City Hall and one block west of the historic county courthouse building near 9th Avenue and 9th Street. The First United Methodist Church currently sits on the property.

It comes at a time of population growth in the county, with the current courthouse not being to keep up with needed room for a growing staff. 

The State Demography Office projects Weld County’s population to reach more than 600,000 residents by 2050. Other projections suggest that by 2040, the population could exceed 548,000 residents, representing a 69% increase from 2019.

Weld County was one of the fastest growing counties in the country over the last four years, according to the county’s website. 

Two other options for the new courthouse were a civic campus where the City of Greeley and Greeley-Evans School District 6 already have offices, or a section of land the county already owns on the north side of O Street, around two miles from the current courthouse.

The commissioners decided to go with the third option — the lowest cost of the three. Now the county will have to go into negotiations with the City of Greeley and Richmark Co., a real estate developer, to finalize the plans.

The board also called on county staff to finalize all agreements and documents necessary to construct a new county administration building on what is called the “Centennial Block,” or where the current courthouse stands.

“West Block is the most efficient path. It offers the best overall value, and our historic courthouse reminds us of our legacy,” said Jeff Darnell, president and CEO of Level5 Collaborative.

Level5 Collaborative, a capitol projects integrator, was contracted by the county in March to provide an analysis of the locations.

The board also did four town-hall meetings around the county to receive input from local residents on the best location for the project.

“This truly is a historic decision,” Commissioner Kevin Ross said Monday in a press release. “We always try to do the best thing for Weld County taxpayers.”

He added that the idea was to be a part of the community, moving offices downtown to better instill itself with the people.

Commissioner Jason Maxey said that any decision wasn’t going to make everyone happy, but he hopes that the board has shown how much they’ve weighed every option.

“We have listened to the feedback we have received,” he said. “I feel like we are looking at the option that is the most cost responsive when we consider the West Block option.”

According to Monday’s presentation, the judicial building is scheduled to be be done by the summer of 2029, barring setbacks.