Indiana Jail Draws National Interest

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By Henderson Gleaner

Published: 10/14/2002

The old Porter County Jail located in downtown Valparaiso is drawing interest from Arizona to Massachusetts as the date for it to go on the auction block draws near.
A national auction house specializing in unusual properties will auction the four-story, 138-bed facility on Nov. 20.
Sheldon Good & Company Auctions of Chicago was called in to conduct the sale after local buyers failed to materialize for the 31-year-old structure.
Inquiries from around the country have come in 'from all walks of people,' according to Paul Galanis, senior project manager with Sheldon Good.
Galanis declined to name prospective bidders, but he said most seem to have some tie to Indiana, whether they grew up here or went to school in the state.
Because of the unusual nature of the offering, several national media outlets have reported the story, Galanis said.
'It's not often you hear of a jail being sold,' Porter County Commissioners President David Burrus told The Times of Munster for a story last week.
Sheriff's officers and inmates are moving from the jail to a new jail on Indiana 49.
Demolishing the 35,272-square-foot jail could cost as much as $300,000, county officials said. The minimum bid will be $25,000, though Galanis said it was difficult to determine an asking price for the jail because so few are on the market.
With a loading dock, two elevators, laundry facilities, full basement and a 51-car parking lot, the former jail is being marketed as a 'unique' property.
Burrus said the commissioners set up the auction because the county was reluctant to continue paying utility and operation costs for the building.
Several charitable organizations also lost interest in the property when they heard about its $10,000 per month utility costs, he said.

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