SPRINGFIELD – A team of business owners is the second to come forward with a plan to build a new courthouse in downtown Springfield, following the state’s decision to privatize ownership of the project.

Auto dealer James “Jeb” Balise and Tom Dennis, principal of Dennis Engineering Group, intend to raze at least five buildings, including four that are considered historic, to construct the courthouse building in a block located between Lyman, Chestnut and Taylor streets.

While Balise said he hadn’t planned to reveal the plan one month before the state’s Oct. 16 deadline to submit proposals, the partners needed approval from the Historic Commission to raze the buildings now to start preparing the site.

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