Panel To Decide Fate Of Empty Miami Federal Building

MIAMI (CBSMiami) — With home foreclosures near record highs, it's no surprise to see an empty house. But how about an empty federal building?

A congressional panel is scheduled next week to hold a hearing in Miami's historic downtown courthouse concerning what should be done with the empty building.

Republican Reps. John Mica of Florida and Jeff Denham of California will conduct the subcommittee hearing Monday. The two congressmen say they are trying to shine a spotlight on how the General Services Administration manages federal properties.

The David W. Dyer courthouse was built in 1931 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. It has sat essentially empty since a new Miami federal courthouse opened in 2007 but still costs taxpayers money to maintain.

The hearing is expected to feature testimony from a federal appeals judge and senior GSA official.

The GSA has been criticized for other wasteful spending, including lavish staff conferences.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.