According to City Council documents, the Portland City Council will vote on Wednesday to authorize the $3 million sale of 3.4 acres in Washington Park, which were once the site of the Portland Children’s Museum, to Metro.
During the pandemic, the property, which also hosted the Opal Charter School, was permanently shuttered in June 2021. Since then, it has remained vacant. The Oregon Zoo next door is operated by Metro, which intends to use the property to develop new facilities and expand the zoo.
According to the deal, the city will retain the right to utilize a portion of the property in any future projects, and the area will formally become part of the zoo’s campus. In addition to six parking spots for city usage, Metro builds for a maximum of 25 years. Additionally, the city will continue to maintain public access to a nearby road.
Suburban initiatives like the FLIP Museum and Columbia Play Project are stepping up to fill the hole left by the Portland Children’s Museum as part of the metro area’s efforts to replace it. After beginning as a mobile exhibit, the FLIP Museum will have a permanent location in Hillsboro next year, complete with STEM activities, interactive art, and cultural events. By 2026, the Columbia Play Project plans to build a children’s museum in Vancouver instead of continuing with mobile exhibits.
The Portland sale is in line with a 2018 Washington Park city plan that called for the museum building to be demolished. According to city authorities, the sale will raise $3 million for Portland Parks & Recreation and relieve the city of its responsibilities for the abandoned property.
The proceeds will go to the city’s Parks & Recreation budget, and Metro will cover the surveying and administrative expenses associated with the sale.
Because transferring obligation for the vacant building is urgent, if the ordinance is passed, it will go into force right away. The purchase should finalize within the next six months, according to city authorities.
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