(The Center Square) – Wisconsin is selling the Department of Natural Resources and former Department of Public Instruction buildings in downtown Madison for $12.6 million, below the more than $45 million assessed value of the buildings at 101 and 125 S. Webster St.
That sale was approved by the State Building Commission after objection from some lawmakers who believe the sale was below what the state should receive for the buildings, which need an estimated $213 million in repairs to meet modern safety and operational standards.
“Selling these state buildings and land that is on prime real estate in downtown Madison for pennies on the dollar is a bad deal for Wisconsin taxpayers and needs a lot more scrutiny before being transferred to a developer in a sweetheart deal while nobody is watching,” Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, said in a statement. “We’ll have a new Governor in a few months and the new administration should get a chance to see if this fits their new goals and policies…