Sussex has option to purchase JP Court 14 annex

Sussex County officials have reached an agreement with the state on an option to purchase the Justice of the Peace Court 14 annex adjacent to the Sussex County Administration Building on The Circle in Georgetown for $2.15 million.

The annex also houses the the Sussex County Register of Wills Office.

During its Aug. 13 meeting, Sussex County Council approved a request to authorize the engineering department to move forward with a proposal request from Tevebaugh Architecture, the architect of record for the new Family Court building across the street from county offices.

Sussex County Finance Director Gina Jennings said plans are to purchase the building and use funds set aside in the last few capital budgets for construction.

County engineer Mike Harmer said his staff is looking at options on usage of the building. He said it could possibly be demolished or remodeled. The recommended plan will be presented to council at a later date. “This is the beginning of the whole process,” he said.

Harmer said at the conclusion of the courthouse project in August 2025, the county will move forward with programming, design and construction of the annex. In addition, he said the county’s fiscal year 2025 budget includes funds for the project.

Harmer is recommending the county tag onto to the State of Delaware architectural contract to solicit a proposal from Tevebaugh Architecture.

“It is timely for us to start our project to assure we are ready to construct when the state vacates,” Harmer said.

As part of the agreement between the county and state, in 2021, council agreed to sell four parcels to the state on East Pine and East Market streets to make way for the new Family Court building and parking garage.

Then the state agreed to sell the annex building to the county when the state vacates the building. In addition, the state agreed to reserve 100 parking spaces in the garage for the county.

“We anticipate planning and programming services in fiscal year 2025 with design and construction to follow. We will also finalize purchase with the State of Delaware as we move forward,” the engineer said.