Real estate staff told the Board of Commissioners that marketing and disposition work continues for several county surplus properties and that the board will face trade‑offs between further investment and selling as‑is.
The outcome matters because decisions about surplus property affect county receipts, future development, nearby neighborhoods and potential obligations tied to grant easements.
Staff said the Hall of Justice has been marketed since February with NAI under contract; the asking price is $5.5 million. Market feedback, staff said, shows the building’s precast concrete construction and high renovation costs reduce buyer interest. Staff noted an as‑cleared‑lot estimate of about $2 million for the land but demolition would cost roughly $1–2 million, and said the contract with the broker expires in December.
Staff briefed the board on a potential Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) conversion for Cy Works Park, reporting positive initial feedback from the National Park Service and ongoing work with Parks & Recreation and consultants; conversion is a multi‑step federal process that can take many months. River Park is under contract for a fuel/retail development with due diligence underway and a target closing in 2026 if the buyer completes conditions; staff said public meetings on rezoning produced no significant opposition.
On the Idles Road/Tanglewood Business Park site, staff presented a site‑selection analysis showing the property is currently more valuable to the county if sold in its present condition (estimated market value roughly $4 million including utilities) than if the county were to fund large grading or transportation improvements. Staff described two cost estimates: roughly $9.6 million to perform comprehensive earthwork across the full site and roughly $2.3 million for transportation improvements; those investments would be required before large‑scale industrial build‑out. Staff noted the county has already invested substantially in sewer infrastructure for the site (staff cited prior sewer costs in the multi‑million‑dollar range) and that utilities are now available. Commissioners asked staff to provide a full accounting of past and committed investments and to return with options on sell‑as‑is, rezone‑then‑sell or invest and develop the property as county developer.