Napa County’s long‑time downtown workhorse, the Carithers Building at 1127 First Street, is on the brink of a big change. County supervisors next Tuesday will decide whether to declare the property “surplus,” a move that would kick off a state‑mandated process and potentially put the building on the market with a minimum net sales price of $10 million. Not exactly pocket change for a mid‑1960s office block.
What Supervisors Will Vote On
According to the Napa County Legistar, the proposed resolution would formally find that 1127 First Street is no longer needed for county use and declare the parcel surplus. It would also direct the director of public works to issue a Notice of Availability and to set a net minimum price of $10,000,000.
The staff packet goes further, asking supervisors to reallocate about $1.998 million from unfinished tenant‑improvement and HVAC projects at Carithers to pay for first‑ and second‑floor work at the Hall of Justice. It also asks the board to authorize closing the 1127 First Street HVAC and roof contract and to delegate authority to the county CEO to negotiate in good faith for at least 90 days with any party that files a timely notice of interest.
How the Surplus Lands Act Comes Into Play
If the board declares the property surplus, California’s Surplus Lands Act takes over the script. The county would have to notify certain local agencies and housing sponsors and then give them 60 days to register interest. Anyone who steps up could then enter a negotiation period of up to 90 days.
If no qualified buyer emerges and the site is later developed with 10 or more residential units, state law imposes an affordability covenant, and some housing proposals must include substantial affordable unit set‑asides. The Department of Housing and Community Development’s guidance explains how those priority rights and affordability rules are applied in practice.
Why The County Is Ready To Move On
County staff note that 1127 First Street has long been a multi‑department office building, but recent relocations and shifting capital priorities have weakened the case for pouring more money into the site.
The Napa County District Attorney’s December newsletter reports that parts of the DA’s operation have already shifted into space in the vacant Hall of Justice and that the office is moving additional functions into leased space at 1250 Main Street. With that handoff underway and major repairs looming, staff say surplus designation gives the block its best shot at a more productive future.
Repairs, Contracts And Loose Ends
The county approved a $5.09 million contract with Kirby Constructions in February 2025 to replace HVAC units and the roof at 1127 First Street, according to board minutes from that meeting. The June 16 staff packet asks supervisors to authorize a deductive change order to close that contract, a bookkeeping and warranty step that would reconcile purchased materials and outstanding line items before the county moves forward with the surplus process.
County staff say closing the contract also involves recording a Notice of Cessation and preserving warranties for equipment that has already been installed.
What Could Come Next On The Block
Staff frame a sale as a chance to stitch the property back into downtown Napa’s fast‑evolving retail and hospitality core. They point to the potential for mixed‑use, housing, or other pedestrian‑oriented projects that would better match what is happening just up the street.
The City of Napa’s First Street redevelopment work, including plans for the former Kohl’s block, is already reshaping the corridor, a trend county staff cite as part of their recommendation to let go of the aging office building.
A Downtown Building With Department‑Store DNA
The Carithers site is not just another office address. Historic American Buildings Survey records show that the Behlow/Carithers department store anchored this downtown block for much of the 20th century, making it a retail landmark long before cubicles moved in.
County facility records describe the current Carithers building as a mid‑1960s multi‑department office that over the years has housed the assessor, elections, the public defender, and a rotating cast of county services.
How Locals Are Taking It
Early reactions captured by the Napa Valley Register include a blunt assessment from artist Gordon Huether and comments from county officials about when a sale might make sense. That reporting also notes that the county bought the building decades ago and that recent storms and paused roof work factored into the repair and budget decisions staff are now outlining for supervisors.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to meet at 9 AM next Tuesday, June 16. If the resolution passes, the county will publish a Notice of Availability and start the 60‑day response window for agencies and housing sponsors. Residents who want to follow the proceedings or dig through the full staff packet can find the agenda and attachments on the county’s Legistar site.
