$5 million Wapato sale called a ‘steal’

One of the dormitories inside the unused 525-bed county jail in North Portland.

 Portland Tribune file photo

In a deal that one real estate developer calls a "steal," the Multnomah County Commission voted last Thursday to sell the never-used Wapato jail to developer Marty Kehoe for $5 million. Only Commissioner Loretta Smith voted no, arguing the price was too low and Wapato should be used to help the homeless.

The commission had previously voted to sell Wapato to Kehoe for $10.8 million last November. At the time, his offer was highest of any received for the property by the CBRE Portland real estate services firm retained by the county to sell its surplus property.