PORT ANGELES — The parent company of Port Angeles Hardwood LLC will continue negotiating with the Port of Port Angeles to purchase 113 acres of Port property.
“We are looking at something different at that site,” said Washington Alder president Richard Tinney.
“We are looking at three sites in the state to do something different but still heavy industrial,” he said in an interview Friday.
A couple of clauses in the Port’s proposed purchase agreement would have made getting equipment financing difficult, Tinney said.
Port Executive Director Bob McChesney said he wouldn’t characterize discussions with Washington Alder about the property as negotiations.
The two sides have not talked for several weeks and nothing is imminent, McChesney said.
The Port now owns the 113-acres nestled between William R. Fairchild International Airport, Lower Elwha Road and Edgewood Drive.
Surplus declaration
Port commissioners declared the property surplus following an Aug. 23 public hearing.
That allowed negotiations to begin on selling the property for a reported $400,000 to Port Angeles Hardwood LLC, a division of Mount Vernon-based Washington Alder.
Port Angeles Hardwood planned to build a $23 million alder sawmill on the property identical to one Washington Alder operates in Mount Vernon.
The project drew protests from neighbors calling themselves the Dry Creek Coalition. They maintained the mill was a good project in a bad location.
Port Angeles Hardwood since has reached agreement with B&D Properties LLC for 30 acres in the Eclipse Industrial Park, where it will build the sawmill instead.
Dry Creek Coalition spokesman Herman Laugallies said he wasn’t surprised Washington Alder was continuing to pursue purchasing the Port property.
“I can’t blame them. It’s a good deal if they can get it for $400,000,” Laugallies said.
“Any business would pursue that.”
Laugallies said Michael Winter of the Dry Creek Development LLC, formed to possibly purchase the property, is still in the mix.
