Miami-Dade Courthouse up for auction at $52 million plus

The old Dade County Courthouse at 73 W Flagler St., which is still in daily use by the county, is being put on the market. Minimum bid: $52.3 million. Not a bad profit for a building that cost $4 million when it opened in 1928.

The historic, 28-story building is being sold “As Is,” according to a legal ad that appeared in Miami Today last week. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in January 1989.

When it opened on July 1, 1928, after four years of construction, the red-dome topped “skyscraper” was the tallest building in Florida, at 361 feet.

There have been issues with the building over the years. It was evacuated in July 2021 after engineers identified safety concerns during a review of the building’s structural integrity. A report recommended closing floors 16 and above while repairs were made.

Leaks and mold have been reported over the years within the Neo-Classical Style, limestone building, and there have been many façade issues.

Miami Today reported in March 2023 that the new $262.8 million county courthouse being built beside the old courthouse was expected to open this October. $18.5 million of that total is a contract to provide telecommunications and audio-visual work.

Work on the new building is not yet completed. The county did not respond to a request for a schedule update of that opening.