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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 3, 2006 Jacksonville still pursuing school property City’s earlier offer for Cascade Christian refused By SANNE SPECHT Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE — City leaders held a town meeting Thursday to put some numbers out to the community regarding their recent negotiations for the historic Cascade Christian school property. The city is looking at the 7.57- acre property located on the east side of town — as well as another city-owned property located near the library and Britt grounds — as potential sites for consolidating its city offices and fire, police and public works departments. The city would also like to build a new community center. At a Thursday special meeting, the city announced its offer for the $5 million school property had been refused by Cascade Christian’s negotiating team. The school is sticking to its full asking price, said the city — which refused to release its offer at both meetings. About 60 citizens listened as City Administrator Paul Wyntergreen presented estimated figures to purchase the property, remodel the older structures (but not the schoolhouse), and build a new fire station and community center. Wyntergreen set remodeling costs at $150 per square foot and new construction costs at $200 per square foot and added the $5 million purchase price. The total came to $8,817,425, he said. Advertisement Urban-renewal funding could finance 30 percent of the project, Wyntergreen said. The city also could sell its surplus property for $1.1 million, he added. That would leave $5,072,198 million to be financed by bond or other means, he said. A bond would run $221.55 or $305.52 annually for an average assessed home of $250,000 for a 30- or 20-year bond respectively, Wyntergreen said, and almost double that amount ($439.59 or $606.59) if the entire project were to be placed on a bond, he added. "These are very rough numbers," said Wyntergreen, adding maintenance and operating costs had not been included in the estimate. Several citizens voiced concern that the property, which is located within city limits and zoned special protection, would be sold to developers. Mayor Jim Lewis explained the property’s zoning would be difficult to change — for the city or any developers wishing to purchase the property. The property’s zoning does not allow for standard residential subdivisions. Any changes to the zoning would require approval of the city planning commission and the city council, Lewis said. Cascade is launching a campaign to raise $4.5 million for a new campus in Medford. Between in-kind and cash donations, the school campus and facilities will have an estimated total value of $14 million when completed, according to Cascade Christian spokeswoman Melissa Stiles. Stiles took notes but made no comment during the lengthy meeting. Afterwards, Stiles said the city had offered substantially less than the asking price with several contingencies that would further reduce the offer. Cascade rejected the city’s offer, she said. But the school’s team fully expected the city would make a counteroffer, she added. "It is not unreasonable on Cascade’s part to have some firm idea of how much the school would receive at the closing of the sale," said Stiles. "The city’s counter offer made the dollar amount difficult to calculate." While some at the meeting were concerned by the prospect of a large bond tax, others urged further negotiations with Cascade Christian’s representatives. "We want to encourage you to do face to face negotiations," said Larry Smith. Councilman Bill Leep said he was assured the crowd that the city’s negotiating team, consisting of Leep, Dick Ames and Donna Schatz, had been negotiating in good faith. "I don’t think there’s anyone here who doesn’t think it’s an interesting piece of property," said Leep. "But when someone says the price is the price, that’s the end of negotiating." Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Casinos Canada dvd-r Generic Viagra Myspace Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Sudoku Online Advertisement s Advertisement