The historic Miami-Dade courthouse, known as the Palace of Justice and located at 73 W. Flagler St., will be put up for sale with an initial offer of $52.3 million.
The county authorities have announced that the deadline for submitting bids will be at the beginning of September and that the millionaire building faces conservation challenges, as it is considered a part of the urban heritage.
The Miami-Dade Courthouse was built in 1925. This neoclassical-style building was designed by the architect Albert Anthony Ten Eyck Brown (1878-1940) and was completed in a period of three years. Originally, the 27-story property housed the City Hall, the courthouse, and a jail.
In 1989, the Palace was included in the National Register of Historic Places of the United States for its unique architectural design; since then, it has been part of the urban heritage of the City of the Sun.
Throughout the years, the maintenance of the building has posed several challenges. In 2013, minor erosion was detected in the basement columns, which raised concerns about their structural integrity and triggered alarms about the expensive restoration process.
In 2021, the building, which was serving as a civil courthouse at that time, was evacuated for security reasons. This decision was made following the collapse of a condominium in Surfside, which resulted in the tragic death of 98 people.
The evacuation marked a critical point in the history of the Palacio de Justicia, underlining the need to find a new owner for the building.
County officials are looking for a buyer, but it is not an easy task because it must be someone sensitive to heritage, who respects the history of this iconic building, and who is a millionaire.
Property records indicate that the appraised value of the building exceeds $43 million. The initial offer of $52.3 million reflects both the historical value and the renovation potential of the property.
The pre-bidding conference will take place on July 15. Two property tours are scheduled to take place on July 27 and August 3. The deadline to send questions regarding its technical condition and other details is on August 23, and offers must be submitted before September 4.
American judges expressed to Local 10 the guild's regret for the sale of the building, and their hopes that the future owner can preserve the historical value of the Miami-Dade Courthouse.
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