The lot at 370 Burkhart S.E. looks about the same as it has for a long time.
Just for the heck of it, I went by the surplus lot at 370 Burkhart St. S.E. that the Albany City Council sold last year with the idea that housing might be built there. Here’s a video report:
The lot contains a massive old concrete reservoir that used to be part of the Albany water system when Pacific Power & Light owned it. The reservoir was decommissioned many years ago and the lot has sat there since, occasionally being mowed but otherwise ignored.
Because demolishing the bunker-like reservoir would be expensive — one estimate was $400,000 — the city had trouble finding a buyer after declaring the lot to be surplus.
But in January 2021, two men told the council they wanted to buy the lot and build five or six units of attached housing on it. The council liked the idea and instructed the city staff to work out a sale.
In April 2021, the council voted to sell them the property for $4,000.
The sale to Burkhart Investments LLC, for the amount the council approved, took place in September 2021.
I don’t know if the buyers still have plans for the place. There has been no public notice of a site plan filed with the city for review.
The only activity at the address reflected on the city’s website is the moving of a power pole near the property last August.
When the council approved the sale, I commented here that the lot likely would see changes soon. That was a guess, and it looks to have been premature. (hh)
Inertia is difficult to overcome.
Great video Hasso. The quality was too good, as that yapping dog was unbeararable.
The place has been sold. I am wondering why our tax dollars are being spent on city employees weed spraying a private property. The employee said he had not heard of the sale & the address was still on his roster. This was today 2/22/22. What is going on with this city, charging us citizens for every little thing but picking up the tab for “investors”?