Vancouver to sell old Humane Society parcel

The city of Vancouver plans to sell the former Humane Society for Southwest Washington property for $464,210.

Tim Haldeman, the city’s director of general services, said Thursday the city council will vote on the sale during its next meeting, 7 p.m. Monday at the Hilton Vancouver Washington.

The city got the property in a swap with the Humane Society, which wanted city-owned land in east Vancouver where it could build a much larger facility.

The new shelter opened in 2009.

Meanwhile the old site, at 2121 St. Francis Lane, has been for sale since it was declared surplus property in September 2012.

In March, the city was contacted by three potential buyers. After getting an updated appraisal, the city sent letters to the prospective buyers asking for their final offer.

Kurt Redd, president of Diversified Marine Inc. in Portland, submitted the highest bid, which exceeded the appraised value of $450,000.

Haldeman doesn’t know what Redd plans to do with the property, which is just under an acre near the Port of Vancouver.

Redd did not immediately return a call Thursday seeking comment.

The Clark County Assessor’s Office values the property at a total of $580,200, but that assessment doesn’t take into account the poor condition of the buildings, Haldeman said. The former kennel smells like dog urine, he added.

The land is zoned for heavy industrial use. The two old Humane Society buildings total 10,890 square feet. The appraised value was $500,000 minus $50,000 for demolition, leaving the current value of $450,000, according to a city property disposition report.

In a report to the city council, City Manager Eric Holmes wrote that proceeds from the sale will go into the city’s water fund because the property was a water fund asset.

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