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WHEREAS, In 1991, the City of Pittsburgh, the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Allegheny County, and the Public Parking Authority of Pittsburgh entered into a Co-Op Agreement laying out the terms and conditions for the development and future operations of the Municipal Courts Building, which included rent-free use of the building by the County; and,
WHEREAS, In 2002, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania began reorganizing its minor judiciary, consequently absorbing the former Pittsburgh Magistrates Court that had operated out of the Municipal Courts Building and placing the administration of those courts into the jurisdiction of the County; and,
WHEREAS, Reorganizing the Commonwealth’s Judiciary led to a fundamental change of the essence of the agreement between Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, yet Pittsburgh remained the owner of the Municipal Courts Building, despite its near-exclusive use for County operations; and,
WHEREAS, In 2008, the City and County entered into an agreement that would have resulted in the sale of the Municipal Courts Building to the Commonwealth and its subsequent lease to the County, but the Commonwealth never executed the agreement; and,
WHEREAS, After 16 years of continued ownership and responsibility for maintenance, upkeep, and operations, Council Bill 2024-1024 became effective, authorizing and directing the disposition of the Municipal Courts Building, prompting renewed communication between the City and County regarding the building’s future; and,
WHEREAS, Over the course of two years of discussions, the County has expressed a desire to repurpose and reimagine the site, but has yet to share a concrete timeline, or agree to enter into any kind of new or amended agreement for maintenance and capital costs associated with the building; and,
WHEREAS, City Council values its partnerships with other local and regional governments, as these collaborations are often necessary to resolve challenges or address issues;
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