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City completes purchase of old brewery parking parcels; staff outline environmental, access and demolition issues
Summary
Parks staff reported closing on parcels at the old brewery site and described structural and contamination issues on several buildings, questions about railroad easements, and a roughly $1 million-plus demolition estimate for the former steam/power plant.
The commission heard an update on the city’s recent purchase of parking parcels and buildings in the old brewery valley and on outstanding environmental and access issues that affect reuse plans.
Staff described three parcels on the west side of the railroad tracks and other pieces that the city now owns. One parcel contains three buildings of varying condition; staff said one building may be kept while the others are likely to be removed. The site lacks immediate utility connections (power, water, sewer) and has no railroad crossing easement that transfers with the city’s purchase, which restricts access across the tracks.
Staff said a limited agreement the prior owner had with Union Pacific allowed crossing for private business use only and that any public crossing or regular crossing for park access would require separate negotiations with the railroad. Staff noted the city obtained special one-day permission for Fourth-of-July access in prior years because trains were not scheduled that day.
An environmental assessment is underway; staff said they are in a Phase II assessment and that “nothing horrendous has raised its head thus far,” but that contamination and historic use (fuel tanks, storage) require careful review. A demolition estimate for the former steam/power plant and associated structures was described as just over $1 million; staff said that cost figured into the purchase agreement negotiations and environmental planning.
Because the valley parcels are in a floodplain, have access constraints and lack utilities, staff said a private developer would likely choose port property elsewhere for new construction. Meanwhile, staff are planning how to use the newly acquired parcels for seasonal parking, emergency access to the back nine of the golf course, and limited storage while longer-term plans are developed.
Staff said they will form a local advisory group of realtors and business people to assess options and that any plan will try to balance parking needs, craft-district permit requirements and environmental remediation.
