Here's where Mount Holly municipal court and council chambers are moving

Carol Comegno, Cherry Hill Courier-Post
·2 min read

MOUNT HOLLY −The township will begin renovating a vacant bank to relocate its municipal courtroom and council chambers now that a federal grant has been secured.

The newly approved fiscal 2023 federal budget provides a $330,000 grant to renovate the former Bank of America at 10 Rancocas Road for municipal court sessions and township council and other board meetings because of chronic lower level flooding of the existing municipal building on nearby Washington Street.

Mount Holly Mayor Chris Banks said a decision was made in 2018 to relocate court and council operations to a new facility so municipal functions can continue operating safely while eliminating the need every year to renovate the flooded ground floor of the three-story municipal building on Washington Street.

This vacant Bank of America branch on Rancocas Road next to the Burlington County government complex will become a new Mount Holly government building for its municipal court operation and for council meetings. The projected opening is in late 2023.
This vacant Bank of America branch on Rancocas Road next to the Burlington County government complex will become a new Mount Holly government building for its municipal court operation and for council meetings. The projected opening is in late 2023.

"The new courthouse will ensure a safe and secure environment four our workers and the public, We would like to extend our most heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-New Jersey) for their invaluable assistance in obtaining the necessary funds so we can complete this project," Banks said.

Perennial and ongoing periodic flooding has cost the township hundreds of thousands of dollars in repairs that have not been fully reimbursed by insurance or emergency funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), according to township officials.

Meanwhile, the overall plan calls for the police department and other municipal offices to remain on the upper floors of town hall.

The new court building is scheduled to open later this year with a courtroom and staff offices, according to Banks.

Until then court sessions and council meetings will continue to be held in one of two buildings owned by the township's municipal utilities authority and located next to town hall.

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The bank building is adjacent to the Burlington County government and courts complex and across a downtown public parking lot from the present township municipal building. The township refers to its new building as a "courthouse," though the public could confuse it with either of the two county courthouses very close by, the historic Olde Burlington County Courthouse and a newer, larger courthouse. Both are commonly referred to by the public as Mount Holly courthouses.

Township communications director Jim Logue said the township paid $250,000 for the empty bank building last year after years of trying to find an appropriate site.

Carol Comegno loves telling stories about South Jersey life, history and military veterans for the Courier Post, Burlington County Times and The Daily Journal. If you have a story to share, call her at 609-533-0306 or email  ccomegno@gannettnj.com.

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This article originally appeared on Cherry Hill Courier-Post: New Mount Holly town hall coming to former Bank of America branch