Jail for sale: County seeks takers for historic building
Published June 26 2009

St. Louis County officials released an official request for proposals Thursday for someone \ anyone \ to buy the historic but dilapidated former county jail in downtown Duluth.

By: John Myers, Duluth News Tribune

St. Louis County officials released an official request for proposals Thursday for someone \ anyone \ to buy the historic but dilapidated former county jail in downtown Duluth.

The county is seeking any and all serious offers for the old building, as is, which has sat unused and ailing for more than a decade.

The County Board has voted to demolish the building this year. But the Duluth City Council last month intervened, using historic building statutes to delay demolition.

Now, county officials are making one last effort to see if anyone wants to buy the building to take it off taxpayers' hands. All offers are due by Aug. 14.

Tony Mancuso, the county's property management director, said Thursday that he has received 11 requests for more information on the building from people or groups interested in acquiring the property. The county is looking for a developer with an established ability to rehabilitate the building for a legitimate use.

The 1924 building is at East Second Street and Mesaba Avenue. It was condemned for prisoner use in 1996. Since then, the county has shown the building to more than 60 parties but has received no legitimate offers to buy the building.

The 30,000-square-foot jail is 47 feet wide by 128 feet long and is built of steel, bricks, granite, concrete and terra cotta. It comes with 10 parking spaces adjacent to the building. The total site is about a half-acre.

County officials are still awaiting the results of a professional appraisal to determine the building's value.

Potential buyers who want to take a tour of the building will have to front $1,000, of which all but $250 will be refunded if and when a serious purchase proposal is submitted.

To receive a complete proposal-request document, contact Mancuso at (218) 725-5085, or send written requests by fax to (218) 725-5086, or by e-mail to mancusot@co.st-louis.mn.us.