An appraisal of the Cedar Ridge Middle School campus, performed by Integra
Realty Resources in Portland for the Oregon Trail School District (OTSD),
valued the property at $3.4 million, including the two school buildings and
43.65 acres of land.

The district is expected to enter into negotiations shortly with the City of
Sandy on a sale of the property, with the city eyeing a possible recreational
hub that would also include the Olin Y. Bignall Aquatic Center.

City representatives are expected to take a tour of the property by the end of
November.

This summer, an appraisal done for the city valued the property at $2.2
million for the land and $230,000 for the buildings. Despite the gap in
numbers, Sandy City Manager Seth Atkinson noted a few differences in the
appraisals, such as the city’s appraisal not including a value for timber while
the district’s did and the district’s appraisal assumed that street easements
had been vacated when they have not been, which result in valuations that
are closer.

“I think there’s a couple factors when taken into account, really we’re not far
off; we’re pretty close,” said Atkinson.

Atkinson noted the city is expected to revisit it’s urban renewal plan before
entering into formal negotiations. He added that legislation from 2009 has
made it difficult for cities to extend an urban renewal area, which could make
the sale more challenging.

“It’s not as easy as just identifying projects, increasing debt limit,” said
Atkinson. “It’s not going to be that simple.”

Atkinson added the urban renewal process would likely be the only funding
mechanism for the purchase, since a general obligation bond would be
“another obstacle.”

The OTSD’s appraisal noted the property is suitable for single family
residential and timber uses, while the school building could be utilized by a
church or other organization. However, when asked about the possibility of
the district seeking a different buyer, Julia Monteith, OTSD Communications
Director, wrote in an email, “Currently the district’s intent is to enter into an
agreement with the city that is mutually beneficial.”

If the city and district cannot agree to a deal on the property, the future of
the aquatic center could be up in the air. Atkinson noted the city, which is
interested in taking over pool operations, could find it difficult to run the
aquatic center while dealing with parking issues and rules about being on
campus with Cedar Ridge Middle School and Sandy Grade School on either
side of it.

“I think it would be very difficult to operate a facility like that sandwiched
between two school facilities,” he said.

The district, which currently operates the facility, implemented an exit
strategy in November 2013 limiting the district’s support for the facility to
$400,000 or until Nov. 30, 2015, whichever comes first.

When asked about the status of pool funding and the Nov. 30, 2015 deadline,
Monteith noted, “If we know we have a transaction in the works, we will
sustain the pool through the completion of that transaction.”