DECADE OF DISCUSSION
2006: Amid concerns about aging Merrimack County Superior Court on North Main Street, the state points to Hazen Drive as a potential site for the new courthouse.
2007: Now-defunct
Concord 2020 commissions study on possible sites.
2008: Developer Steve Duprey begins talks with the city about turning part of the Sanel Block on South Main Street into a county courthouse. He and state eventually back out.
Feb. 1, 2015: Fire breaks out in courthouse, causing smoke and water damage.
Feb. 12, 2015: Gov. Hassan unveils capital budget, which includes $18 million for a new superior court and calls for every effort keep it downtown.
Spring 2015: City considers the former Employment Security building as a site for the new courthouse, but backs out.
June 2015: The Legislature passes Hassan’s capital budget, but removes mention of keeping it downtown.
July 2015: Duprey first meets with County Administrator Stephen Marro.
October 2015: Duprey presents his plan to renovate the existing courthouse to skeptical state senators.
January 2016: The state Department of Administrative Services delays $1 million design contract for Hazen Drive, buying county time to sway lawmakers about their plan.
March 1, 2016: The House committee votes to kill the downtown effort, all but ensuring its demise.
March 10, 2016: In surprise decision, the Republican-led House votes to allow the courthouse to stay downtown. Senate committee hearing not yet scheduled.
March 21, 2016: The Merrimack County delegation votes nearly unanimously to support the new downtown plan. Current plan would build new courthouse in the parking lot of the existing one.
Existing courthouse would be renovated into office space
for the county attorney and sheriff.
