After nine months of construction, the temporary Franklin County Courthouse opened on February 17. This project required a wholesale conversion of the existing office space into specialized courthouse operations. Development Associates of Agawam, leased the 57,000 s/f space located at 101 Munson St. to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The lease is for a 5 year term while the $60 million renovation of the Main St. courthouse is underway.
The property is owned by Greenfield Corporate Center LLC, who purchased it from Phoenix Home Life in 2001. Development Associates, a local company who has been developing commercial and industrial property throughout the Pioneer Valley for over 50 years, was responsible for the multi-million dollar construction project.
The new courthouse facility is home to the Superior, District and Probate Courts. It also houses the Registry of Probate, District Attorney's office and Law Library. The new facility includes many improvements over the existing downtown courthouse for public safety including security, closed circuit video cameras and card-controlled access doors.
101 Munson St., the former Phoenix office building, is located just off of I-91. It was built in the 1970's and has since been modernized to fit the needs of various tenants. The building is home to businesses including the Department of Transitional Assistance, Department of Children and Families, Veteran's Administration, Crocker Communications and others.