Maine
Federal government announces plan to sell some buildings in Maine
The U.S. Custom House on Free Street in Portland is among hundreds of properties deemed “non-core assets” that the federal government said Tuesday that it plans to sell off. John Ewing/Portland Press Herald, file
The federal government plans to sell off certain properties it deems nonessential to core functions, including four properties in Maine, the U.S. General Services Administration announced Tuesday.
Among hundreds of properties deemed “non-core assets” are the Edmund S. Muskie Federal Building in Augusta, which hosts more than a dozen tenants, including the Postal Service, IRS and offices for both of Maine’s U.S. senators.
The Social Security Administration building in Presque Isle was also listed, as was the historic U.S. Custom House and a parking facility in Portland, the administration said.
All those sites are included in a list of “properties designated for disposal.”
“GSA’s decisive action to dispose of non-core assets leverages the private sector, drives improvements for our agency customers, and best serves local communities,” the administration said in its announcement.
Core assets include those used for “critical government operations, such as: courthouses, land ports of entry, and facilities critical to our national defense and law enforcement,” the administration said.
The list includes properties in nearly every state, including a handful of high-profile government buildings.
Although it originally included more than 440 total properties when announced, the list was pared down to just 320 properties by 8 p.m. Tuesday.
Among properties that appeared on the original list but were removed are the J. Edgar Hoover Building, which serves as FBI headquarters; the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building; the Old Post Office building, where President Donald Trump once ran a hotel; and the American Red Cross headquarters.
The headquarters of numerous agencies, including the Department of Labor and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, were originally listed as well.
It was not immediately clear when the properties would be formally offered for sale or what the terms may look like.
“GSA will be releasing more information on how interested prospective parties can submit information soon,” the department said.
The GSA did not immediately return emailed questions Tuesday night about why certain properties were removed from the list, whether others may also be removed, or when details of the sale policies would be revealed.
This report contains material from The Associated Press.