HANFORD, Calif. ( KSEE/KGPE ) – The sale of the Kings County Courthouse, which many consider a historic landmark, has been approved for $1 during a city council meeting last week.
The motion was approved during the Hanford City Council Meeting on Nov. 5, to allow the city manager to execute necessary documents for the sale of the County of Kings Courthouse to Esteem Land Company LLC (DBA Barrelhouse Brewing).
The historic monument was sold for $1. It was built in 1869, according to officials. It had an expansion in 1914, and most of it has been vacant because of accessibility and maintenance issues.
Officials at the council meeting said the reason for selling the courthouse was because of the improvements that need to be made to the building, which would cost approximately $10 million. They add the city has looked at several options, but ultimately decided to sell the courthouse to Esteem Land Company LLC when they expressed interest in acquiring it.
Kevin Nickell and Jason Carvalho with Esteem Land Company LLC say this is not the first time they have done a project of this kind. They add they want to build an operational, clean and safe building that will attract small businesses to Downtown Hanford.