Sale of Port building at Wilma falls through

Port Properties and Development Manager Debbie Snell reported the pending sale of one Port building at Wilma has fallen through and closing date for sale of a second building has been extended.

The two buildings up for sale, located at 1845 and 1847 Wilma Drive, are the last structures owned by the Port at Wilma.

The sale of 1847 Wilma Drive fell through after the buyer declined to proceed with closing. The buyer gave the reason of dissatisfaction with the proposed terms of the site lease.

Port properties at Wilma are leased to tenants who operate businesses there.

The process to sell the building at 1847 Wilma Drive started last summer, and paperwork to sell the building for $250,000 on a full price offer had been completed as of mid-September. The building was set for closing on or before Nov. 1.

“It was because of the rent re-determination clause,” said Snell. “The whole sale was contingent upon the lease being signed.”

The last tenant in that building was Hells Canyon Rock, which vacated the site more than a year ago. The building was built for Spacial Dynamics, a microwave research development firm. All previous tenants in the building had leased the building from the Port. The potential buyer had planned for a machine shop.

Snell said the building has now been re-listed with Palouse Commercial Real Estate.

“We’re hopeful that we’ll have another offer before the end of the year,” she said.

The sale at 1845 Wilma Drive has been delayed.

“We received a written request from Mark Huett to extend the closing date for 45 days,” Snell told the commissioners. “He had requested additional time for the closing of the building as he is working on funding.”

The building is projected to be sold to Huett for $230,000.

“I believe in good faith that he is going to buy the building,” Snell said.

The extension places the closing date on or before Jan. 17. Snell said Huett is currently leasing the land there.

“He has paid the December lease for the land, and he will be billed for the land lease,” she said. “It is in his best interest to close this deal.”

The commissioners approved the motion to extend the closing date on the condition that it is only extended once. If another request to extend is made, it will be denied.

The building is the former site of Renaissance Marine, which moved to a larger building at the Port of Clarkston. Bennett Lumber Products previously leased the building and subleased it to Renaissance Marine. The lease with Bennett Lumber Products has been terminated so the building can be sold. The Port will continue to lease the site.