The School Board rejected the City’s 4/4 counter offer and gave the City a 5/9 deadline to come up with a “clean” offer to purchase Oppenlander. The School Board’s messaging was part posturing and part incorrect, but their intent to sell Oppenlander by June 30th was made clear.
Thank you for hanging in with us on this on this long and winding journey.
This is our Press Release:
Friends of Oppenlander Responds to West Linn Wilsonville School District School Board’s “Direction to Staff”
May 2, 2025 – West Linn, OR
Friends of Oppenlander is pleased that the West Linn Wilsonville School District Board of Directors (SD) was very clear on their status and limitations regarding selling Oppenlander Fields to the City of West Linn. The SD has allowed the City seven days to submit a revised “clean” offer to purchase Oppenlander.
Like School Board Chair Taylor, Friends of Oppenlander has been on this journey for the last four years. We are the grassroots group that called on the parties to return to the table in 2021 after their failed first meeting in early 2021, and have been shepherding this transaction for the last four years
The City confirmed to Friends of Oppenlander that the 4/4 counteroffer was a direct city-SD transaction with a second separate transaction between the City and ICON Construction. The counteroffer preserved 3 acres of Oppenlander as a park with new ballfields and old-growth trees, allowing Friends of Oppenlander to raise more funds to preserve more acreage and trees.
It should be noted that the reason a public-private partnership is needed and only part of the 10-acre field acre being preserved is that the SD raised the price from the initially contractually determined 6-figure price to an implied $6.5M price to today’s full market value of $8.875M, the current offer from the City. It should also be noted that as we toss around millions of dollars changing hands, all of those funds are coming from taxpayers who already “own” this land – these millions are essentially “transfer fees” and taxes being paid at taxpayer expense.
While the 4/4 counteroffer meets the SD’s public-public criteria, it does include a request for a 6-month due diligence closing extension, which is not acceptable to the SD. Friends of Oppenlander have already called on the City to submit a revised offer by 5/9 without a closing extension.
Public pressure inspired the School Board to require that $6.5M of the sale proceeds remain in a land bank fund, an appropriate use of excess property land funds. The School District did a lot of posturing on their call
including establishing ballfields at Riverside High School, a property that is neither close to Wilsonville nor West Linn residents, and saying some teaching jobs would be saved with some one-time funds … that kicks the can down the road to continuing and a larger fiscal cliff next year.
Friends of Oppenlander remains hopeful that at least part of Oppenlander Fields can be preserved.
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MAY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION
Ballots for the May election were mailed today. Board member Kirsten Wyatt is up for re-election. Friends of Oppenlander PAC has endorsed her opponent, Christi Lanz, as a fresh face with excellent insight and perspective … especially on finances and how the School District can do better while serving the community and being transparent. Kelly Sloop, a consistent supporter of the City’s effort to acquire Oppenlander, is running unopposed. Chair Taylor is stepping down from the Board with two good candidates running.
NOVEMBER BOND MEASURE
The $140M November bond measure is being characterized as a “fix critical issues” bond. The money from the Oppenlander sale is not going to fix critical issues and reduce this bond, it is not going to land banking for future generations of students, rather it will “disappear” first as a part of a reserve fund and then it will likely trickle into general School District operations.
We need and want good schools … and we want them to be efficient, and focused on the children and the community. Accountability and transparency are critical to make this happen.
BACKGROUND
On March 21st, the School District made an offer to the City allowing them to purchase Oppenlander. The District refused to discuss the offer with the City calling it “firm and non-negotiable final offer.” The City replied on April 4th with a counteroffer stating they would pay the District’s full $7.875M price and requesting some adjustments with two primary and reasonable concerns with the District’s proposal.
The City is preparing to purchase Oppenlander under a public/private partnership with ICON Construction, a West Linn-based developer to optimize the preservation of approximately 3 acres of the park, and hopefully some of the trees. The City will provide $3.5M from the bond measure, ICON will provide the balance of funding and do all of the required improvements and relocation of the park, and Friends of Oppenlander will raise additional fund to save additional trees and green space.
However, the District’s sales agreement needs to allow for the City to be the sole purchaser from the District while the City closes a simultaneous sales transaction with ICON to sell some of the some of the property including improving the remaining park space.
In order for ICON to be a 3rd party to this transaction as a developer, ICON needs approximately six months to perform due diligence and to attain preliminary-approval for a formal set of plans from the City … which, by the way, will be a requirement of any other developer.
The alternative to this three-way public/private partnership with be at least 65-70 middle-density homes.
The ICON public/private proposal is 44 middle-density home, preservation of a senior-sized ball field, a running water bathroom, paved parking, and some play equipment for little children (based on the current plans).
BOTTOM LINE
The City’s offer gives the District their full asking sales price, a portion of Oppenlander is saved, the transaction closes in approximately 6 months – the same time it would take any developer to close (the District does not need the cash for Oppenlander for any immediate expenses so this costs them nothing), and Friends of Oppenlander is able to raise funds to preserve more park and trees.
Best regards,
The Friends of Oppenlander team
WE CAN STILL SAVE OPPENLANDER WITH YOUR HELP! Preserve and extend Oppenlander’s 40+ year legacy of community park, senior baseball fields, add a new playground and restrooms. While there will be some development, we don’t lose the entire park or all of the trees. Without your help, and a School Board closing date extension, it will all become homes.
