The Hillsdale City Council recently approved the sale of the courthouse annex.

A college alumnus will purchase the Hillsdale County Courthouse Annex if the Hillsdale County Board of Commissioners finalizes the agreement on April 28, according to Commissioner Doug Ingles.

“We are just waiting on that closing date where everyone signs, and then phase one will be complete and we can move forward,” Ingles said.

The commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the agreement with Hillsdale Renaissance LLC on March 28. The company is a subsidiary of Pago USA, which is owned by Eric Doden ’92. It hopes to renovate multiple buildings downtown, including the annex, which lies across from the courthouse at the intersection of N. Howell and McCollum streets. 

Pago USA aims to revitalize historic downtowns across the country, according to its website, “making small-town America a place where people have enhanced opportunities for personal and professional growth.” 

Doden previously told The Collegian about the practical goals of the restoration.

“You want to create 10 restaurants, 10 shops, and 10 entertainment venues per town,” Doden said. “Those will then be curated by the owners of the building and the entrepreneurs.”

The courthouse annex is currently home to the 2B District Court, but Ingles said he believes there are multiple places the court could be moved once the sale is finalized.

“One option is to move the court into the Department of Health and Human Services building across town,” Ingles said. “Another option is to build an addition to the Hillsdale County Courthouse.”

Commissioner Mark Wiley voted against the purchase agreement.

“My only reason for voting no on the sale was because there is no clear plan as to what to do with the district court,” Wiley said. “I do not believe in taking the approach ‘It will all work out,’ and though I agree we need to sell the building, the timing may be in question.”