County proceeding with plan to auction downtown office building

A downtown office building with six off-street parking spaces could go on the auction block in April as part of Yellowstone Countys courthouse remodeling plan.

Commissioners on Tuesday adopted a resolution of intent to sell its two-story brick building at 214 N. 24th St. to the highest bidder and to set the minimum price at $320,000.

We believe the property would be a hot property, said Dan Schwarz, chief deputy county attorney. The county already has received some interest in the property, which is near the new federal courthouse, the county courthouse and city hall, he said.

The commission will hold a public hearing March 11 on the proposed sale. If the commission decides to proceed, it will sell the property during an auction April 1 at its board meeting.

An appraisal of the property by Charlie Hamwey, of Real Estate by Hamwey, estimated the fair market value at $293,000.

The 1915 building has 2,603 square feet of usable space on a 7,000-square-foot lot in the Central Business District. Hamwey said the building needs some updating, including improvements for meeting requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Sale proceeds, commissioners said, would go toward construction of a new building at MetraPark for the countys Extension Service. The county had considered relocating Extension from the courthouse to the brick building but decided MetraPark would be a better location for the agency.

Remodeling costs for Extension to move into the brick building would be between $300,000 and $400,000, said Commissioner Bill Kennedy.

Selling the brick building would be the first step in the countys plan to renovate some of the courthouse to make more room for the County Attorneys Office.

Also on Tuesday, the commission approved holding an election on whether voters want to establish and fund a Yellowstone County Government Study Commission. The issue will be on the June 3 primary ballot. No one spoke at a public hearing on the matter.

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County proceeding with plan to auction downtown office building