On Friday, August 16, Chair Brenda Meade completed signing the documents to take ownership of a building at 1899 Willamette Street in Eugene. The purchase had been approved by Tribal Council at their meeting on August 9, giving the Tribe its second piece of property in its Lane County service area with the other being the existing KWC Eugene on River Road.
The Tribe’s creation of an Opioid Treatment Program in Eugene necessitated the need for more space than the current building could carry. With the help of the Tribe’s TribalOne entity, the 1899 Willamette location was pinpointed and the due diligence process began on the 27-thousand square-foot structure. The building was appraised at $5.4 million. The Tribal Council, at the same meeting, approved a loan with Oregon Pacific Bank for 75-percent of the appraised value for the purchase. Through the diligence process the price was negotiated down $5.15 million.
“The loan is attempting to, as much as possible, reserve the Tribe’s funds and use funding from the bank to make that purchase,” CIT Chief Financial Officer Kyle ViksneHill told council members during the meeting.
Chair Meade gave kudos to all involved in bringing this about, particularly noting the ongoing work in pursuit of grant funds.
“It’s beautiful, and without using General Fund dollars. This is a loan for the purchase of a beautiful piece of property in Lane County and we have a lot to celebrate any time we are able to purchase new lands in our five county service area and deliver more service.”
Interim Health and Wellness CEO, Mark Johnston, indicated that the additional space is critical to the short and long term growth of the Tribe’s healthcare goals in Lane County and that the portfolio of services at KWC River Road will generate more than enough revenue to support the loan debt service and allow the Tribe ample time to strategically plan for how to best utilize space at the new facility.
There will be an Open House at the new property, currently expected around the end of October, but exact date, time and details will be shared as they become available.
