Orange County Property Appraiser Rick Singh said Wednesday, he learned through a media statement that the agreement to purchase the Maguire buildings for OCPA offices is no longer a viable option.
During the County’s due diligence process, it was discovered that the buildings would need significant renovation – which would lead to delays and additional costs, according to the statement, Singh also said.
“While we had been working hand in hand with the County to ensure a smooth transition, we are grateful that these problems were discovered now rather than later and that the process to purchase the Maguire properties has been halted,” he said. “We are hoping that the County will now look at other options, including space in the Central Business District that would be better suited for our offices and provide ideal access to taxpayers.”
Currently located on the 17th floor of SunTrust Towers downtown Orlando, Singh has long advocated moving the OCPA so as to make it more accessible to taxpayers. He opposed the Maguire buildings given their lack of proximity to other government offices.
Last week, speaking exclusively to the West Orlando News Online, Singh suggested one option might be, the construction of a single tower next to the Orange County administration building, to house all of the county’s constitutional officers, as other cities like Miami/Dade in Hillsborough County and Jacksonville, have successfully done.
