Sheriff closes on Sarasota County offices deal

Sarasota County has finalized a $15.96 million acquisition of a three-story office building that is being transformed into a new administrative headquarters for the Sheriff's Office.

The 71,500-square-foot building, at 6010 Cattleridge Blvd., was completed in 2004 by Michigan-based Osprey S.A. Ltd., county property records show.

Osprey has been in the process of liquidating its Gulf Coast portfolio. Earlier this year, it sold a collection of seven buildings in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch and Tampa to North Carolina-based Dilweg Cos.

County spokesman Jason Bartolone says the deal to acquire the building began late last year. The space will be used to consolidate the Sheriff's Office's administrative, forensic and investigate staff, officials told the County Commission before the five-member board approved the purchase in February.

County officials indicated buying the building would save residents roughly $35 million — the difference in the amount developing new, similarly sized and outfitted space would cost.

The Cattleridge building had previously been offices for motorized scooter manufacturer Hoveround Corp., which relocated its headquarters to Sarasota County from neighboring Manatee County in 2012.

The Sheriff's Office is planning a grand opening celebration to showcase its new headquarters beginning at 10 a.m. Dec. 9, according to the department's Facebook page.