The city will enter a three-day auction next week to buy the Northwood Centre, an ailing 30-acre parcel in the middle of town that could be used for projects down the line.

In a last-minute motion at Wednesday’s City Commission meeting, Mayor John Dailey asked his colleagues to weigh in on whether officials should enter into the public auction starting April 15.

The starting bid for the 50-year-old converted shopping mall is $2 million. The property was sold to a Miami Beach company for $100 last month, according to court records. The cost to enter the auction is $25,000.

Dailey said the center, once in city possession, has endless possibilities.

“This is also one of the sites that have been suggested for other activities for municipal services, whether it’s for affordable housing, workforce housing or the public safety complex,” he said. “By the fact that the city owns the dirt, it gives the city the ability to control the destiny.”

With no time to legally notice a public meeting on the proposal, Wednesday was the last day to discuss the matter under open government laws.

“This is it,” Dailey said. “We’re up against the 8-ball.”

Troubled Northwood:

Northwood Centre was cleared out of thousands of state workers two years ago when bat guano, mold and toxins were found inside the structure. Without enough time to submit notice for another meeting to discuss, the idea was floated and approved unanimously.

More than 300 people are involved in a pending lawsuit against the Northwood Centre stemming from complaints of air-quality issues.

City Manager Reese Goad will move forward with entering the auction. He said taking the level of contamination remaining in the building would be a part of the bidding process.

“We would expect it to sell under market value,” he said.

The site has been floated as a possible home for the new headquarters of the Tallahassee Police Department.

More:Wilson Green open space, northwest Tallahassee wetlands eyed among others as future TPD HQ

Commissioner Curtis Richardson said entering the auction does not signal that the center would become the new home for TPD. An open, public submission portal for site suggestions is still active through April 18.

“We may or may not determine to put it there," he said. "This does not signal that this will be the site for the law enforcement campus.”

Contact Karl Etters at ketters@tallahassee.com or @KarlEtters on Twitter