Vacant Miami courthouse emblem of problem
By CURT ANDERSON
AP Legal Affairs Writer
MIAMI (AP) — Members of Congress say Miami’s empty downtown federal courthouse symbolizes a national problem with empty and underused government buildings.
Three lawmakers held a hearing Monday on the future of the David W. Dyer Courthouse. It opened in 1933 and is on the National Register of Historic Places but has been vacant four years.
Florida Republican Congressman John Mica says there are some 14,000 federal properties that are empty or not fully used. Mica says the General Services Administration’s inaction is wasting taxpayer dollars.
GSA officials say they are working to deal with the properties. Last week GSA asked developers and business people for suggestions on the Dyer courthouse’s future.
The GSA has come under fire recently for questionable spending and lavish staff conferences.