Columbus to spend $3.5M more on new municipal courthouse design, plans new stunt driving law

The city of Columbus' costs to design and build a new Franklin County Municipal Courthouse are rising.

Columbus City Council introduced an ordinance Monday to spend an additional $3.5 million on the contract with architectural firm Moody Nolan, which has offices in Columbus and around the country. The funding modification to the city's contract with Moody Nolan includes renderings and "schematic design" for the new courthouse, city documents show.

The Dispatch previously reported that the city spent nearly $900,000 on the first phase of planning with Moody Nolan.

The project for a new municipal court building has been in the works for multiple years and it’s still unclear exactly how much it will cost.

Voters approved a $130-million bond for the new building in May 2019, but the former Dorian Commons park at the corner of South High and West Mound streets where it is planned for construction has remained undeveloped since.

Increased penalties for stunt driving, street takeovers

The city of Columbus has been cracking down on ATV and dirt bike driving since 2022 — and the Ohio legislature has also taken action to penalize stunt driving.

A new ordinance City Council introduced Monday evening allows law enforcement to seize car parts used for car racing as contraband.

And drivers wouldn’t be the only people who could face legal consequences for engaging in dangerous and illegal stunt driving on city streets.

“Persons rendering assistance in any manner to street racing, stunt driving, or street takeover shall be equally charged as the participants,” the ordinance states .

There is a caveat in the ordinance for events that have a special event permit or when otherwise authorized by City Council.

Council held a first reading of the ordinances Monday and is expected to vote on these ordinances, as well as the city's new zoning code, on July 29.

awinfrey@dispatch.com

@Annalynnfrey

This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus to spend $3.5M more on new municipal courthouse design, plans new stunt driving law