Despite some City Council members’ objections, the Port of Woodland will evaluate potential redevelopment options — as well as necessary renovations — for a long-vacant downtown building at no cost to the city.
On Aug. 5, the port proposed conducting a market study on 100 Davidson, a vacant building at the corner of Davidson and Goerig streets. Due to disagreements regarding the port’s intentions, the council tabled the matter. On Aug. 19, the City Council approved the intergovernmental agreement with a 5-2 vote. This evaluation will outline the necessary renovations to ready the building for lease and analyze current market conditions to determine its best use.
Some City Council members, however, remain skeptical of the port’s intentions. Councilor Terry Hall labeled the proposal a “Trojan horse” during the Aug. 5 discussion, suggesting the port might conduct a biased evaluation so it could purchase the building later at a lower cost. Although he ultimately voted in favor of the agreement due to its no-cost provision, Hall and council members Douglas Freimarck and Carol Rounds — who voted against it — think the offer weakens the city’s position. They prefer finding a private developer, citing concerns over the port’s unique taxing authority.
Hall said he only voted in favor because the building evaluation will not cost the city any money, nor does it bind the city to any terms regarding future plans for the building.
“I’m agreeing ... in terms of let’s look at it and see what comes up,” Hall said last week, adding city officials must still consider the evaluation — and working with the port — cautiously.
Port of Woodland Director Jennifer Wray-Keene argues the evaluation is an opportunity for the city to revitalize its downtown area and not a maneuver for the port to acquire the property. “What this is all about is revitalizing the start of this [project], to figure out a path forward,” Wray-Keene said last week. “It’s not about whether the port owns the building. If there’s a better buyer, wonderful. If there are better options, great. If there’s not, we are an option, but it doesn’t lock it down, so please don’t [think] that is what this is all about.”
During the Aug. 5 discussion, she emphasized that the port’s primary interest is to leverage its access to grants, which will cover 80% of the evaluation cost, to assist the city in downtown development. She reiterated that the building is not a priority for the port, which is currently focused on other capital projects.
Woodland Councilor Melissa Doughty urged the council to show good faith, stressing the importance of collaboration with local agencies. She stated, just as the city already has an agreement for the police department to provide an officer to local schools, city officials need to be willing to work with the port, as well.
Mayor Todd Dinehart noted that the evaluation is a crucial first step in determining a suitable use for the property. Woodland Community Development Director Travis Goddard added that, in 2019, three business developers interested in the building declined to purchase the property due to the extensive work required. The port’s evaluation will provide the city and potential developers an understanding of the scope of work necessary to make the building viable.
“We have not, essentially, reapproached the project since 2019, so it has been five years of inactivity since this last discussion occurred,” Goddard said.
