Hilton Head plans $7.7M property purchases for new fire rescue headquarters
With plans to establish a new headquarters for its fire department, the Town of Hilton Head Island is seeking to purchase land from a disgraced local lawyer who’s nearing the end of his federal prison sentence.
The town plans to purchase two properties totaling 3.16 acres at 9 and 10 Park Lane, located off U.S. 278 near the entrance to Long Cove Club.
Town spokesperson Heather Woolwine said a deal was anticipated later this month for 10 Park Lane for around $5,950,000. Officials hoped to close on 9 Park Lane in January for an estimated $1,750,000.
10 Park Lane is owned by a company belonging to Peter J. Strauss, founder of the Strauss Law Firm and several other businesses that were housed in the 33,216-square-foot building on southeast Hilton Head, according to Beaufort County property records. His law firm specialized in estate and tax planning, asset protection and captive insurance solutions.
The space would be repurposed into a new headquarters building for Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue, housing its administrative offices, emergency operations center and dispatch services into a single location. Across the street, the restaurant building at 9 Park Lane — currently Nick’s Steak and Seafood — would be demolished for “open space and parking to support Fire Rescue operations,” according to an October news release from the town.
Strauss was sentenced in February for hiding millions of dollars for his Californian clients, Jeff and Paulette Carpoff, who were convicted of running a grand money laundering scheme through a solar energy company. The lawyer pleaded guilty to knowingly receiving the Carpoffs’ funds in order to impair the government’s investigation of the couple.
He was sentenced in February to nine months in federal prison, which was later reduced to eight months. A judge ordered him to pay a $40,000 fine and $2.7 million in restitution.
Inmate records show Strauss is set to be released Dec. 15 from federal custody. He is currently at a residential reentry center, or halfway house, in Atlanta.
After 21 years of operation, Nick’s Steak and Seafood announced it would close its doors starting Dec. 13. Its owners confirmed the town is planning to purchase the property.
Woolwine said the building at 10 Park Lane meets the needs of Hilton Head Island Fire Rescue and would “improve visibility” for the agency with a more accessible location. Its current headquarters lies off Dillon Road, east of the Hilton Head Island Airport.
Cost estimates are still in progress for renovations to the two properties. 10 Park Lane requires the installation of a generator and “minor modifications” to accommodate a dispatch center, according to Woolwine.
At 9 Park Lane, crews will need to demolish the building and a portion of the parking area. The remaining parking space will be “improved” to support the new headquarters building.
This story was originally published December 8, 2025 at 2:56 PM.
