Triangle Park: Other Uses, Other Owners?

Sorry it took me so long to respond to this... been busy.

It's an interesting article/video and I love the independent and artistic spirit of those guys, but the reporter missed the mark on several important details.

1) There are not just "talks" between Zidell and UP. The two parties signed a purchase-and-sale agreement that was binding and set to be completed on Jan 1, 2007. Unfortunately, Zidell got cold feet and the sides have now been negotiating for well over a year and a half. Neither side wants to see it go to court, but if it were to, UP has a very, very strong case and if the school were to win Zidell would be forced to honor the purchase and sale agreement.

2) The eventual buyer of the land will not be forced to clean it up. The EPA has already done lots of work on the land and will continue to do so. Will the buyer be responsible for some clean up? Of course. But make no mistake... the land isn't just sitting there stewing in pollution and waiting for someone to come clean it up.

3) There really isn't a lot of debate over the value of the land. The debate is about liability for future clean-up.

Again, it's a cool story, but I wish the writer would have had the thought of actually calling and talking with someone about the deal (or doing a quick Google search of "Triangle Park" and finding the old Oregonian and Portland Business Journal articles about it) rather than just kind of going on the assumptions of some skater dudes.

My God, I just can't believe that a report would go out unsubstatiated. Next we'll hear that the U didn't want the land at all. Zidell has messed this thing up from the getgo.

We found out two weeks ago from Larry Williams at our SAAC meeting that Triangle Park should close mid December (the 18th to be exact).

The school will have to demolish everything first, then build a solid road down there and THEN they'll FINALLY be able to start building down there. The land will have softball and baseball fields, tennis courts (They want to double the current facility), a track (WOOO HOOOOO!), a bark "cross country" loop (I use the term cross country lightly because we would never, ever host a meet there) and parking!

That's great news; I hadnt heard a specific date, but I had heard that the process was actually moving along again.

I would assume there will be another capital campaign coming up soon to fund construction down there... and on the main campus... hopefully the markets stabilize by then!

Interesting mention of softball fileds... would those be just for intramural use? or are they looking at women's softball as an option, too?

I also was interested in the softball field mention, although the WCC schools that play softball don't do so as the WCC. They are part of a conference that includes PSU, among others.

And will it be just a baseball field or a stadium?

I know the long-term plan is to build a new baseball stadium down below, to free up the space currently occupied by Etzel Field. (Eventually they want to tear up the main parking lot, as well, replaced by a parking garage... maybe something similar to the one at USD where you drive in on the top level, and can exit on the lower level to the lower elevations)...

GU just built a nice new baseball complex, and several other WCC teams have upgraded their baseball facilities as well... UP will need to do so in the near future if we want to compete.

Just throwing it out there... but if they build a dock for the crew and whatnot.... Why not a place for people to pregame and moor their own boats... I mean how fitting would a Riverpilots Pilot Club pre-game booze cruise be?? The SS Geezer?? Anyone??

Haha as long as they provide some sort or ride up the hill....

DaTruRochin wrote: The SS Geezer?? Anyone??

Haha as long as they provide some sort or ride up the hill....

No need... I'll just have Mildred sent the Retirement Castle shuttle bus for me.

I thinking we need the northern version of the tram! Then when all the Zagites show up we can park them down below and charge them to use our tram to get to the Chiles Center.

Actually, up7587... you aren't that far off. I'm pretty sure one of the ideas is to build some type of elevator that you could enter on the bottom and come out at that weird little triangle-shaped sitting area across from Corrado and Holy Cross Courts.

As for the deal finally getting closed... boy I sure hope so! I think I've said this several times on here over the years, but I truly believe that chunk of land will secure a very bright future for the University well into the next century. Having that land will allow the school to really spread its wings and become want it envisions up top.

One word... Funicular... BOOM problem solved!!