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Sanford commission signals interest in coordinated approach to three Seminole County downtown properties
Summary
City officials discussed options for three downtown Seminole County properties — the Engineering Building, courthouse and County Admin building — and directed staff to pursue interlocal options with the county after its March retreat while emphasizing the importance of parking, rezoning and neighborhood protections.
The City Commission of Sanford spent the bulk of its Feb. 23 work session discussing Seminole County’s offer to dispose of three downtown parcels — the Planning & Engineering building with adjacent county parking, the courthouse (Block 1/2/3), and the County Administration building — and how the city should respond.
Commissioners and staff said the Planning & Engineering building appears the most readily monetizable because it includes two parking lots and could be adapted quickly for private office or retail use; staff said the county estimated roughly 68 employees currently used the building and that a private reconfiguration could support on the order of 100 employees, with retail on the ground floor. Commissioners noted that county vehicles regularly occupy those lots during business hours and that any change of control will affect downtown parking supply.
The commission flagged the courthouse parcel as more challenging. Staff and commissioners agreed the courthouse’s redevelopment value depends on Block 1 parking being included in any offering; without the parking parcel, they said, repurposing would be difficult and could lead to long vacancies or land banking. Staff also described potential adaptive reuse by Seminole State — noting that Dr. Joy at Seminole State did not rule out converting courthouse space for classes — which would bring evening activity downtown.
The County Administration building and several small adjacent “orphan” parcels drew concern for their proximity to the Mayfair and Georgetown neighborhoods. Commissioners warned that demolition and reconstruction would be expensive and said unmanaged disposition could jeopardize neighborhood character.
On next steps, staff recommended telling Seminole County — which will meet for a retreat in March — that Sanford is interested in exploring a coordinated disposition. City staff proposed drafting an interlocal agreement to preserve flexibility, meeting with County Manager Darren Gray after the retreat, and asking that county staff route parcels through the city planning department and seek rezoning prior to going to market, which staff said is necessary to maximize value.
No formal vote was taken at the work session. Commissioners generally indicated support for a cooperative, city‑led approach that would either bundle the three properties for coordinated redevelopment or ensure interlocal terms that protect downtown parking and neighborhood character. City staff said they will return with a proposed interlocal and follow up with Seminole County after its March retreat.
The commission’s discussion emphasized caution about parcel geometry and parking, the need for planning‑department involvement before marketing, and the desirability of negotiating an interlocal framework rather than having the county take the properties to open market without city input.
