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Broward commissioners authorize outside counsel to explore buying Spirit Airlines headquarters for government center
Summary
Commissioners authorized up to $25,000 for outside bankruptcy counsel to assess whether Broward County could purchase Spirit Airlines' headquarters via bankruptcy proceedings as an alternative to building a new government center, and directed staff to pursue due diligence.
The Broward County Commission voted 9–0 on May 12 to authorize up to $25,000 to retain outside bankruptcy counsel to evaluate whether the county can pursue purchase of the Spirit Airlines headquarters as a potential site for its new government center.
A public speaker urged the board to consider buying the Spirit building, calling it an opportunity to save “hundreds of millions” compared with the projected cost of a new build. Commissioner Dean Yudin (first introduced by the dais) raised the proposal and said the property’s contiguous office space, existing parking and a recently built multifamily component could meet county needs and speed delivery.
County attorneys and commissioners cautioned that bankruptcy sales are procedurally complex. The county attorney explained that purchases through a bankruptcy court (currently a chapter 11 case) often occur "as is, where is" with limited typical due‑diligence windows; courts favor transparent, competitive bid procedures and allow credit bidders whose secured claims can be used to offset purchase prices. Commissioners discussed options — acting as a stalking‑horse bidder, becoming a competitive bidder after stalking‑horse designation, and the need to disclose bid limits in public proceedings — and emphasized the likelihood of competing creditor bids and compressed timelines.
The board’s limited authorization funds initial outside counsel work so staff can ask targeted legal questions and refine any next steps while county staff performs its own due diligence. The motion passed unanimously by voice vote.
What happens next: County administration assigned assistant county administrator Isami Ayala Goya to lead staff work and, with outside counsel if needed, return to the board with findings and recommendations. If staff and counsel advise pursuing a bid, the board would need further authorization and potentially larger legal expenditures to participate in a bankruptcy sale process.
Votes and motions: The commission authorized spending of up to $25,000 for outside bankruptcy counsel to evaluate potential purchase options related to the Spirit Airlines property and to support staff due diligence; motion passed by voice vote 9–0.
Sources: Board discussion and public comment during May 12 meeting; county attorney and commission comments recorded in the meeting transcript.
