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Board to solicit proposals for old Milton courthouse site; staff to run RFP with city input and delay release to spring
Summary
Commissioners asked staff to finalize a request for proposals for the county's old courthouse property in downtown Milton, to consult the City of Milton on the RFP, and to time the solicitation for May–June to increase developer interest; staff gave an approximate maintenance and demolition cost baseline.
The Santa Rosa County Board of County Commissioners asked staff at a Jan. 30 workshop to put the old Milton courthouse property out for proposals, to coordinate the solicitation with the City of Milton, and to delay release until late spring to improve market interest.
Why it matters: The county no longer uses the building and staff said maintenance costs are roughly $75,000 a year. Commissioners said they preferred a market solution rather than continued upkeep or county reuse, and asked staff to draft a flexible RFP that allows proposals for repurposing, demolition and mixed‑use redevelopment.
Costs and appraisal: Staff said a recent appraisal values the land at about $1.2 million and the building at roughly $5.5 million. Staff estimated demolition could cost roughly $700,000; commissioners emphasized the county should not retain long‑term liability for remediation and that any RFP should require proposers to assume remediation or demolition costs.
City coordination and timing: Commissioners asked staff to consult Milton city staff about the RFP (particularly about parking and planned road improvements along Highway 90) and to market the solicitation broadly. Several commissioners suggested delaying formal release until May–June to increase developer interest given current economic uncertainty.
Next steps: Staff will finalize an RFP draft, meet with the City of Milton for input, and return with timing and outreach plans. Commissioners reiterated they would not commit to accepting any offer and would reserve the right to reject proposals or hold the land as green space if suitable proposals do not emerge.
