City may want to buy Columbian building
Thursday, October 9 | 11:39 a.m.
JEFFREY MIZE
A potential buyer emerged on the same day The Columbian announced plans to vacate its downtown office building.
The city of Vancouver intends to see if the building could fit into its long-range plans to consolidate operations in downtown.
“This is something we’re serious about looking at,” City Manager Pat McDonnell said. “I just don’t know if we can afford it.”
The city already has its parks, finance and human resources offices in a two-floor building catty-corner to the site.
McDonnell said the city had been considering expanding that building, 610 Esther St., but wants to consider The Columbian site now that the property has been listed.
Columbian Publisher Scott Campbell, when asked about the possibility of selling to the city, replied: “It’s for sale. The building is built to be a long-term building. … Maybe it would be a good idea.”
In April 2007, the city moved about 150 of its employees to the Electric Lightwave Building, 4400 N.E. 77th Ave. near Westfield Vancouver mall. The city moved the employees out of downtown after it decided it needed to vacate and sell the former Citizens Service Center, next door to city hall, because of seismic concerns.
The city’s lease at the Electric Lightwave Building runs until 2011.
by Term Limits : 10/9/08 1:19pm - Report Abuse
Hey Pat! No we can't afford it. We, the taxpayers, have enough worthless property that generates zero tax revenue downtown,and a city owned hotel that lose 2 to 3 million a year. So now you want to buy an empty building, taking it off the tax rolls, and let it sit empty or fill it up with more city employees. GIVE us a BREAK. Your mis-management has cost us enough. Some of us might just think the city, ie. the Mayor, are bailing out Scott Campbell because he has been the city's number one public relations department. Hey Pat, you are already taxing us seniors out of the city, so whats another 500 or 1,000 dollars a year added to our tax bills. Hell if I made over $100,000.00 a year like all the managers in the City of Vancouver maybe it wouldn't be, but on 1/4th of that it is a serious problem. Wise up before the population goes away.