Oregon City could soon add buildable acreage to the former Stimson Lumber Mill site after ODOT determined it can transfer adjacent state-owned land to the city.
The city's Urban Renewal Commission will vote July 15 on a $4,450 contract with Portland Valuation Group to appraise a strip of ODOT-owned right-of-way along Old 82nd Street.
The appraisal is the next required step before ODOT can convey the land to the city, according to a staff report by Community Development Director Kelly Hart.
The right-of-way sits between the 7.7-acre Stimson Property at 1799 Washington St. and the Metro South Transfer Station.
ODOT has determined it can transfer the parcel solely to Oregon City, Hart wrote in the staff report. Adding it to the Stimson site would increase the buildable footprint available to future developers.
The commission directed the city manager to sell the Stimson Property in 2024. It issued a request for proposals in December 2025 seeking mixed-use development, with a preference for hotel, retail, restaurant, or entertainment uses. The site is zoned Mixed-Use Downtown and sits adjacent to I-205 and Highway 213, near the Amtrak station.
In a prior city announcement, Urban Renewal Commission Chair Mike Mitchell called the Stimson site "a sizable piece of property in a great location" and said development there "will be a catalyst for development in the north end of our city."
Portland Valuation Group, based in Sherwood, is already on ODOT's approved appraiser list and previously appraised the Stimson Property for the city's economic development staff. Appraiser David E. Balfour will lead the work.
The contract runs through December 31, 2026, with a 45-day delivery window from notice to proceed, placing the completed appraisal around early September.
The $4,450 cost is funded by the Urban Renewal Commission from its fiscal year 2026-27 budget. The contract was procured under Oregon City Municipal Code 2.40.020, which allows direct appointment for services under $100,000.
Hart's staff report does not outline what happens after the appraisal is complete. The subsequent steps, including a formal conveyance agreement with ODOT and any sale to a developer, have not been publicly scheduled.
The commission's executive session at the same meeting will cover real property negotiations under ORS 192.660(2)(e). URA Executive Director Anthony J. Konkol III oversees the process.
How to participate: The meeting begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, July 15, at Hanlon Commission Chambers, Libke Public Safety Facility, 1234 Linn Ave., Oregon City. Residents can attend in person, watch the YouTube livestream, or submit written testimony by emailing [email protected] or calling 503-496-1509 by 3 p.m. on July 15.
