This historic courthouse was purchased at auction. What the buyers plan to do with it

Jeff Smith, Corning Leader
Updated ·2 min read
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The recently purchased old Steuben County Courthouse building will likely be converted into apartments.

The 10 W. First St. building, was purchased by Leonardo and Jennifer Milio for $142,500 in early July at the 2023 Steuben County Real Property Tax Auction, according to Jack Wheeler, Steuben County manager.

Elise Johnson-Schmidt, of Johnson-Schmidt and Associates Architects, of Corning, confirmed the owners are considering developing apartments at the location.

A look at the old Steuben County Courthouse on West First Street.
A look at the old Steuben County Courthouse on West First Street.

“They are considering historic preservation tax credits and they would be maintaining the historical courtroom,” Johnson-Schmidt said, adding they've already gone through some design reviews with the state in order to maintain it.

Leonardo Milio could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

Johnson-Schmidt said the old Steuben County Courthouse is a National Register of Historical Places and in the Southside Historical District. It was constructed in 1903, by Jay Foster Warner, whose father A.J. Warner designed the Corning Clocktower, in the late 1800s, she said.

More: An historic Steuben County courthouse in Corning sold at tax auction. Here's what we know

The property served as Steuben's county courthouse since the early 1900s and then as a New York State Department of Motor Vehicles office until about a year ago.

“The upper floor of the building still holds the old courtrooms, which closed when Steuben County consolidated all the courtrooms to Bath in the mid 1980s,” Wheeler said. “The upstairs courtrooms are still beautiful and in very good shape.”

Johnson-Schmidt said she thinks the property, currently assessed at $200,000, is in good hands.

The courthouse building sold at auction in July 2023.
The courthouse building sold at auction in July 2023.

“The Milios have experience as developers,” Johnson-Schmidt said.

The Hornell Courthouse, the only other court building outside of Bath, also closed in the 1980s before hosting DMV offices. The building at 12 Allen St. received just one bid for $2,000 when it was sold in an auction by Steuben County in late 2018.

Rebranded as The Courthouse, a number of small businesses moved into the space over the next few years, ranging from a book bar to a fitness center, but the COVID-19 pandemic effects slowed the growth of the facility, and it was placed back on the market.

Catholic Charities closed on the property for $220,000 in 2022 and now hosts a variety of services at the building.

This article originally appeared on The Leader: A NY courthouse was sold at auction. Will new owners save its history?