![Santa Rosa commissioners voted to buy 19 acres on Avalon Boulevard in Milton for the new county courthouse. [Special to the Press Gazette]](http://127.0.0.1/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/ghows-DA-571315db-ed22-04fa-e053-0100007f7ff1-63f69483.jpeg)
MILTON — Santa Rosa commissioners have approved the purchase of a 19-acre parcel of land on Avalon Boulevard on which to build a courthouse.
The commissioners on Sept. 14 voted 3-2 to buy the land from JDL, LLC for $850,000. Commissioners Sam Parker, Bob Cole and Don Salter voted in favor of buying the land, but Commissioners Rob Williamson and Lane Lynchard opposed the motion.
Santa Rosa County officials have discussed replacement of the current courthouse, located in downtown Milton, for approximately 20 years. In July of this year, the county selected the JDL site and two other properties to study as a possible future courthouse location.
The board later chose to exclusively study the JDL site above the other two contenders. The county had Brantley & Associates Real Estate Appraisal Corporation appraise the property, and they found it to be worth $1,080,000. The county extended an offer to purchase the land in the amount of $850,000, which JDL accepted.
After the county decided that the JDL land would be the best fit for the new courthouse, commissioners voted to approve the purchase.
The board instructed county staff to advise JDL of their decision, and County Attorney Roy Andrews will begin constructing a sales contract to send to the company.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Commissioners OK land purchase for courthouse