BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) – Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration is preparing to sell a welcome center and adjacent parking garage in downtown Baton Rouge.

The administration will ask for legislative signoff next week to declare the two structures surplus property, clearing the way for the sale process.

Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols says the welcome center isn’t used enough to justify the expense to the state.

By selling underused facilities, the state can reduce spending on maintenance and upkeep of those buildings, in addition to collecting sale proceeds.

The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1FO5P9Q ) the Capitol Park Welcome Center, opened in 2007, includes a theater space, meeting space and a patio with room for up to 600 people. It has been appraised at $7 million. The nearby parking garage has been appraised at $4 million.