The Portland City Council agreed Wednesday to sell the former home of the Portland Children’s Museum to the regional government agency Metro.
The council voted unanimously to approve the sale of the 3.4 acre lot for $3 million; Metro plans to use it to help expand the Oregon Zoo, the state’s top paid attraction.
The museum had been located on the 3.4 acre lot in Washington Park at 4033 SW Canyon Road since 2001. Officials moved in 2018 to demolish the building because it was aging to the point of being uninhabitable. The museum closed in 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, and the building — which also housed the Opal Charter School — has remained largely vacant in recent years.
Ultimately, officials decided that the best course of action was to sell the property, rather than convert it into parking, said Dylan Paul, a city real estate manager.
The building sits next to the zoo in Washington Park. It “could provide more space on the zoo campus for animal habitats, conservation and education efforts and guest services,” Oregon Zoo Director Heidi Rahn told city leaders at the council meeting. She also said the building could help provide space for administrative services or a staging area for upcoming bond projects, “thus easing construction impacts to the zoo.”
Filbert, aka Stumptown Fil, predicts an early spring on Feb, 2, 2024 at the Oregon Zoo in Portland.
Michael Durham / Courtesy of the Oregon Zoo
“We are very excited for what this ordinance could do for Washington Park and for our community more broadly,” Rahn said.
The sale comes after voters in May approved a $380 million bond to bolster the zoo’s infrastructure. Last year, the zoo generated $110 million in total economic output and supported more than 700 jobs, said Rahn.
Commissioner Rene Gonzalez lamented the closure of the Children’s Museum as “a tragedy for our community” and said the nonprofit helped teachers learn how to reach preschool children.
“With all of that, I’m hopeful that the zoo can put it to good use for the broader community. I support this and will vote aye,” he said.
Mayor Ted Wheeler acknowledged that the building was “tired” and said that $3 million was a “more than reasonable” deal for the city.
“I hope that we can see a better future for this facility,” he said.