The Bureau of Land Management set Aug. 6 as the date a 144-acre piece of public land in northern Douglas County will be auctioned, officials announced Wednesday.
The announcement comes two days after Carson City's protest against the sale was rejected by the U.S. Department of the Interior, giving BLM the go-ahead for the auction.
Several buyers have shown interest in the site nestled along Highway 395 across from new retail centers, including the new Wal-Mart Supercenter.
"We've had a very good amount of interest in the property, both local and out-of-state interest," said Fred Slagle, BLM realty specialist.
The land is bisected by Topsy lane and bordered to the south by North Sunridge Drive and to the north by the Carson County line. Originally billed as a 146-acre parcel, bureau officials have since rechecked their math and found the site contained 2 acres less than originally calculated, Slagle said. The configuration of the land is the same, he said.
With the right equipment and money, the rolling hills on the land could be flattened to make a home for a retail center, Slagle said.
The contentious sale has been in the center recently in the battle between Carson City and Douglas County for retail development dollars. Bureau officials first set the auction for December but it was put on hold pending Carson's formal objection.
On Monday an assistant Interior Department secretary dismissed Carson's arguments. Carson could still challenge the sale in federal court.
Bidding will start at $7.5 million, the appraised fair-market value for the land. The auction will take place at 10 a.m. Aug. 6 at the Douglas County Administration Building, 1616 Eighth Street in Minden.
The buyer will have 180 days to close escrow following the auction, Slagle said.
ON THE NET
http://propertydisposal.gsa.gov
