No one wants to buy Big Blue.<\/p>\n
Tampa\u2019s aging police headquarters, a boxy blue building in the heart of downtown, went up for sale in December with a starting bid of $36 million. But the city\u2019s request for proposals, which closed on Feb. 6, received no responses.<\/p>\n
The bid request was the first step toward relocating Tampa\u2019s Police Department, a city news release said last year. The new owner would have been required to lease back the building to the city for one year \u201cfor the relocation of the Tampa Police Department operations,\u201d according to the request.<\/p>\n
It is not yet clear where the Police Department would relocate, nor how much money a new headquarters would cost.<\/p>\n
Roughly two dozen companies, including architects and construction firms, followed the city\u2019s online page for updates on the project. But none submitted proposals to buy the site, which includes the 10-story police building and an adjacent parking garage.<\/p>\n
Arian Cora, a procurement analyst for the city, sent an email on Wednesday to more than fifty people and companies including real estate, construction and consulting firms requesting feedback on \u201cwhat may have prevented participation\u201d in the project.<\/p>\n
\u201cAny insight regarding the structure, requirements, timeline, or other terms would be greatly appreciated as we evaluate future solicitations,\u201d Cora wrote.<\/p>\n
A city spokesperson did not immediately respond to questions about next steps for the project.<\/p>\n
City leaders have long complained about the downtown building at 411 N. Franklin St., purchased for $2.95 million in 1996 under Mayor Dick Greco.<\/p>\n
In 2015, Mayor Bob Buckhorn said<\/a> the building, nicknamed \u201cBig Blue\u201d for the dark tinge of its windows, had \u201coutlived its usefulness\u201d and that he planned to find a replacement.<\/p>\n \u201cIt makes no sense for me to put money into a building that\u2019s obsolete,\u201d he said that year.<\/p>\n But in 2018, nearing the end of his second term, Buckhorn said there was \u201cno money\u201d<\/a> to complete the project.<\/p>\n