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Downtown Austin property once eyed for Travis County court space could be set for sale, lease

Rather than develop it for much-needed court space Travis County today moved forward on a plan to negotiate a sale of this property at 308 Guadalupe Street, which currently serves as a parking lot.

Rather than develop it for much-needed court space Travis County today moved forward on a plan to negotiate a sale of this property at 308 Guadalupe Street, which currently serves as a parking lot.

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By JJ Velasquez |

Purchased in 2010 with an eye toward developing the property into expanded civil court space, a $22 million site at 308 Guadalupe St. is up for bid, Travis County commissioners decided Tuesday.



The property takes up the entire block and is currently being used as a parking lot. Travis County's $287 million courthouse construction bond failed in November 2015, and many in the real estate community claimed the block was more valuable as a private development than as a courthouse, according to a news release from County Judge Sarah Eckhardt's office.

No details were provided on how much the county stands to profit from the possible sale or lease of the property.

"Although it is not in the taxpayers' interest to release details during negotiation, based on the responses to the request for proposals it is safe to say the county will receive significant value for this asset above the original purchase price," the release states.
By JJ Velasquez
The Central Austin editor since 2016, JJ covers city government and other topics of community interest—when he's not editing the work of his prolific writers. He began his tenure at Community Impact Newspaper as the reporter for its San Marcos | Buda | Kyle edition covering local government and public education. The Laredo, Texas native is also a web developer whose mission is to make the internet a friendly place for finding objective and engaging news content.

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