Love It or List It

To sell or not sell the WEB property? 

The city has agreed to a LOI (letter of intent) to sell the WEB Building for $16.5 million.  However, before the deal becomes final, two hurdles must be crossed, either one of which could kill the deal. 

Decision 1: The city council must decide if it their wish to actually sell the property. 

Decision 2:  the zoning must be changed from CR&D (Campus Research and Design) to GC (General Commercial). 

Either question has consequences for the future of Lake Oswego.  What is missing from the equation though is any kind of a plan for what the city wants to do with its own needs for facilities over the long term, and how or if the WEB property might fit into those plans.  Without such a plan, the council will be shooting in the dark and may hit the target, or miss it wildly, but won't know until some time in the future. They will be crossing their fingers that their decision will be right, but not know why. 

This seems to be the disastrous way the decision was made to purchase the building in the first place.  The city, under the helm of then-mayor, Judie Hammerstad, jumped to purchase the building when it came up for sale without a clear plan about what to do with the property.  In her State of the City address January, 2008, Hammerstad was still speculating on possible uses for the property. 

From the Oregonian, 10/19/07

LAKE OSWEGO -- This time last year, city councilors seemed almost giddy as they announced an unusually bold purchase: $20 million for the former Safeco Insurance building on Kruse Way.

Mayor Judie Hammerstad called it "the opportunity of a lifetime" and said she hoped to turn the 88,872-square-foot building into a community center. Even before the city had signed the final paperwork, she said a community center could be a wonderful project to showcase the Lake Oswego's centennial in 2010. 

Neither the decision to purchase the WEB property in 2006 or to sell it 7 years later was or is being done with a public vote.  After the fact, the purchase was narrowly approved by voters, albeit with no bonding to cover the debt.  The vote was contentious and the issue over public ownership of the property has been a stone in the shoe of citizens ever since. 

At this point, in the latter part of 2013, the city owns the property, and the question isn't to purchase it or not, it's do we keep it or not?  On the face of it, and considering its history, the knee jerk decision is, Hell Yes!  But wait.  Emotion aside, this one of the last large tracts of property in LO and many of our current public buildings might need to be replaced.

So can this white elephant turn out to be an asset to the taxpayers after all?  Is it cheaper and more efficient to operate all of city functions out of one building than remodel or rebuild the current city hall or build a new library downtown when space exists in Lake Grove?  There are money concerns no matter what decision is made - which one is right for LO - and more importantly, WHY?  (Wish they'd have answered that in the first place!) 

Give the council your 2 cents about selling or keeping the WEB at a Public Hearing on Tuesday night, September 24, at 7 pm in City Hall.  Formal testimony can also be written and sent to the City Council.  Go to:  City Council webpage and look for a link under Contact Information in the menu bar.  If the decision on Tuesday night is Sell It, the second decision about zoning will be the next step.

A less formal way to give your opinion in a non-scientific survey is through an online comment process called Open City Hall.  You can find a link on the City's home page, or go here:  Peak Democracy

Tell the Council what you think - keep or sell, AND what do you think the long-range plan for the city should be?