Miami’s landmark Courthouse goes on sale following safety concerns

Miami, Florida – Starting at $52.3 million, Miami-Dade County will be accepting bids for its historic courthouse at 73 W. Flagler St. After years of maintenance issues and safety concerns, this famous building—which has been the focal point of Miami’s legal and civic life—is on sale.

Originally intended to serve several uses including housing City Hall, a courthouse, and a jail, the 27-story neo-classical skyscraper was built in 1925 by architect A. Ten Eyck Brown.  Its distinctive ziggurat-shaped cap has made it a notable feature of Miami’s skyline. The building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1989 confirming its architectural and historical significance and recognition.

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The decision to sell follows the 2021 courthouse evacuation brought about by safety issues. This action was part of a larger review of building safety across Miami-Dade County spurred by the catastrophic partial collapse of a condominium in Surfside that took 98 lives. County officials have been looking for a buyer since the evacuation; property records show an assessed worth of more than $43 million.

Starting with a pre-bid meeting on July 15, the sales process is slated to start with tours of the property set for July 27 and August 3. Interested parties have until August 23 to make inquiries; September 4 is the last date for bids.

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Eleventh Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Nushin G. Sayfie and former Chief Judge Bertila Soto voiced conflicting feelings in a statement to the Daily Business Review on the departure from the historic building. Though they said the relocation was “bittersweet,” they hoped the new owner would “put much less stress on it,” therefore safeguarding its structural and historical integrity for next generations.

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Selling the Miami-Dade historic courthouse signals a turning point in the county’s continuous attempts to solve infrastructure and safety issues in its public buildings as well as opening a new chapter in the history of one of Miami’s most iconic structures.