By Ame Phitwong
UP is one step closer to acquiring the Triangle Park property directly below the bluff as the University and landowner discuss the terms of the deal.
"We have reached that point in our discussions where there is an agreement on the terms that bring about a settlement," said James Kuffner, assistant vice president of Human Resources and Administration. "And those terms are in review now."
The land purchase was previously halted when Jay Zidell, the property's owner, informed UP on Jan. 2 that he refused to close the purchase and sale agreement. Shortly after, the University filed a legal complaint with Multnomah County and was prepared to settle in court with a judge last October.
"I don't think anything will happen in 2007 regarding closing (the deal), but hopefully in early 2008," Kuffner said, adding that he can't provide details regarding the specific terms of the proposed agreement.
According to Kuffner, the lawsuit was filed to "compel the seller," to carry through with the agreement. The University had met all the terms of the purchase and sale agreement and was prepared to secure the property on Dec. 29, 2006.
UP sought legal assistance and filed a complaint on Jan. 4, and then appointed a court date in October. Kuffner explained that the University attempted to settle an agreement with the seller out of court, causing the October court date to be pushed back. He explained that there were risks and rewards for doing this.
"In court, you can never fully know how a judge could rule or what the other side would do. It could have been a lengthy process," Kuffner said. "We had to weigh that possibility with the notion if we could arrive on something on our own, if we could come to an agreement ourselves."
Also involved in the move to acquire Triangle Park were the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Environmental Equality. Along with the seller and the University, Kuffner said the four parties have been working together to come to an arrangement that will satisfy everyone.
"We're very hopeful to achieve an agreement on issues that had been preventing us from closing in the past," Kuffner said. "We've been very busy. These kinds of negotiations are very sensitive and require careful attention to detail."
After the Triangle Park deal is closed, Kuffner said the next plan for UP is to begin the process of acquiring the McCormick and Baxter property. The 43-acre property is adjacent to Triangle Park along the Willamette River. Combined with Triangle Park, the University would accumulate approximately 80 acres of new land.
Kuffner predicts UP will have ownership of both properties by the end of 2008.
The City of Portland has approved a map and zone change for the property, and Kuffner said the papers are being held until the University becomes the official owner.
Even after the properties are obtained, Kuffner said it would be two years or more before the new land would be incorporated into UP.
He said the property still needs to be cleaned up, the old buildings demolished, and the contaminated soil removed and replaced.
"We're going to be able to do a lot of good things," Kuffner said. "The planning will involve students, the neighborhood, the Board of Regents, staff and faculty. We're all going to work together to develop a vision for the land."
