The land bounded by Union, B, State and C streets wouldaccommodate a 70-courtroom, 600,000-sf facility to replace theantiquated complex at Broadway and consolidate the aging trafficcourt building in Kearny Mesa.

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors is poised to considerbuying land from George "King" Stahlman of King Stahlman Bail Bondsand another property owner, Realty Parking Properties, with land onthe block north of the current Hall of Justice. The combined priceof the property is more than $7.4 million. A third property ownerwould have an option to sell is land for an estimated $2.75million.

The land purchase is only the first step toward eventuallybuilding a courthouse at the site. Funding for the project is notyet in place, even though bills are wending their way through theLegislature that would free hundreds of millions of dollarsstatewide for court construction.