The King County-owned Aukeen Courthouse will be sold to the city of Kent for $5.6 million in a deal brokered by King County Executive Dow Constantine and approved unanimously today by the Metropolitan King County Council.
According to a release from the county, the sale allows the city to expand with the cost of remodeling, which was expected to cost about $7 million.
“By working as a partner with the city, we found a common-sense solution that saves taxpayer dollars,” Constantine said. “Kent can continue to operate at one consolidated municipal justice campus without the need for an expensive expansion project, and King County can make more efficient use of the Maleng Regional Justice Center by consolidating court proceedings and improving service to the public at that location.”
Currently, King County owns the Aukeen District Courthouse and leases space to the city of Kent for its municipal court – but in order for both jurisdictions to continue operations at the site, the city had planned to expand the building at a cost estimated at $7 million. By moving King County District Court’s South Division operations out of the Aukeen building and into the nearby Maleng Regional Justice Center (MRJC) and selling the facility to the city, the city can expand without the additional cost of remodeling.
“This sale is a win-win,” said Kent Mayor Suzette Cooke. “It will allow the city to meet the growing needs of the court and save taxpayers future remodeling costs.”
Under terms of the agreement, the city will pay the county $5.6 million to purchase the facility, and avoid the need to spend the estimated $7 million cost of remodeling. The county will use proceeds from the sale to offset the cost of relocating the district court, as well as pay for some minor improvements at the MRJC to accommodate the court.
“With this agreement, we now have a way to implement our long-term goal to consolidate and expand district court operations in South King County,” King County Councilwoman Julia Patterson said.
Facilities managers expect to move south division district court operations to the Maleng Regional Justice Center by spring 2013.
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