ORLANDO, FL—The federal government is sitting on an untappedgold mine of thousands of vacant or under-used properties—including600 buildings at Kennedy Space Center alone—that, if taken over bythe private sector, could go a long way to spur investment and helplight a fire under the lagging economic recovery.

That assertion came from US Rep John Mica(R-FL), who was the keynote speaker at the RealShareCentral Florida conference, held here yesterday. Micaspoke to about 200 real-estate brokers, developers, property ownersand investment specialists. The event was one in a series ofRealShare Conferences that are held across the country with anational event coming Nov. 4-5 in Miami.

“The federal government is the biggest property owner in theworld,” Mica said. “It would be great for business if these vacantfederal buildings would be sold. However, the waste goes on.”