District judge’s move to former Millcraft Center delayed
Aug. 1 is fast approaching, but the date originally publicized as the opening of a new, larger location for District Judge Robert Redlinger has been postponed.
The county commissioners last week approved a month-to-month lease with Andrew G. Uram Family Partnership for Redlinger’s current office at 75 E. Maiden St., Washington, at $4,800 per month.
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, owners of 90 W. Chestnut St., Washington, are still working on renovating the new second-floor office suite for Magisterial District 27-1-01.
The building at the corner of West Chestnut and North Franklin Street was formerly known as Millcraft Center, but it has been under new ownership since last year.
“We’re moving Judge Redlinger into his new office the last week of August,” said Patrick Grimm, Washington County court administrator. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts also requires data hookups for its statewide website, and the projected installation was extended by the Verizon strike, which has now been settled, Grimm added.
Also last week, the commissioners amended the lease for 90 W. Chestnut to begin an annual fixed rental rate of $18.25 per square foot for 4,555 square feet, with a 25-cent per-square-foot annual increase. The original figure was $18 per square foot. The revised document, which eliminated language that had dealt with additional rent and shared tax increase, begins Aug. 24 and lasts through Aug. 31, 2023.
With jurisdiction in Washington and North Franklin Township, Redlinger’s office is the busiest of the 11 magisterial offices in the county. There were 7,028 cases filed there last year, 824 of which were criminal prosecutions. District judges also handle summary citations and civil matters including landlord-tenant complaints. The office collected $639,339 in total revenue last year in fines and costs, distributing $331,898 to the state, $147,057 to the county and $160,384 to the two municipalities.