Port St. Lucie to buy Dorothy Jo Conrad Annex and lease it back to county for relocation period

The Board on July 22 approved a sale of the Dorothy Jo Conrad Annex to the City of Port St. Lucie and a short-term leaseback that will allow the county up to 18 months to relocate the tax collector and Veterans Services offices. County staff said the county recently purchased an alternate building at 8881 U.S. 1 where the tax collector and veterans services will move; the purchase price for the annex is $4,000,395.20 based on an as-is appraisal by Parrish and Edwards. Under the sale-and-leaseback agreement, Port St. Lucie will buy the annex, pay the settlement sum and lease the annex back to the county for 18 months for total rent of $1. The county will be responsible for maintenance during the lease and will split customary closing and due-diligence costs as described in the agreement. County staff told commissioners facilities relocation is expected to take no more than 18 months in a worst-case scenario; the county anticipates moving earlier if possible. Commissioners voted to approve the purchase-and-leaseback agreement.