Owner may donate South Beach property to nonprofit’s efforts



Friends of Oregon Coast Aquatic Park (FOCAP) were discouraged when their efforts to purchase a piece of property in Newport’s South Beach neighborhood were derailed after the foreclosure auction was postponed twice, then the property sold out from under them to a then-unknown third party.

Newport City Council had already declined to contribute $1 million toward the purchase of the property for the ambitious project, opting to conduct a survey instead.

During council’s Oct. 19 work session, staff reported that because the cost of the survey was estimated at $6,000, and the South Beach property had been purchased by a third party, council was asked if the survey was still necessary.

“Because there has been other activity to purchase the property the aquatic park was interested in, rather than spend money on a survey right now that we may never need, we put it on hold,” said Newport Mayor Bill Bain. “We can reactivate it at any time, if necessary.”

FOCAP has not given up, however. Volunteer Kat Pedersen said that the organization is still convinced the South Beach property best meets their criteria. They have not given up pursuing that particular piece of land, she said.

“We are finalizing plans to meet with the new landowner before the end of December,” Pedersen said. “The piece of property never went to auction. The new landowner made an offer, and it was accepted.”

The property’s new owner is Newport attorney Bill Barton.

“Essentially, I bought the land as an investment,” Barton explained Thursday. “I knew there was an ongoing interest in the parcel for an aquatic park.

“I am not indifferent as far as the situation with the pool. I will look at their business plan, and I have some competent people who will take a look at it, as well.”

Barton’s advisors won’t make up his mind for him, he said, but they will give him the benefit of their advice.

“I will think about it and make up my own mind,” he said. “Although I bought the land as an investment, I’m willing to consider donating it.

“I am not obligated to donate it, but I’m willing to consider it.”

In the meantime, Newport’s aging community pool was closed again recently for mechanical problems, Pedersen said.

“A compressor pump went down on Sunday evening, Oct. 25, and we lost a third of the pool,” said Parks & Rec Director Jim Protiva. “We had to go to Eugene on Monday to get a replacement part.

“In transferring the old pulley, it cracked due to significant rust. That was after 5 p.m., so we had to wait until the next morning to get a replacement, but we were up and running by 10 a.m.”

The swim team still was able to practice, Protiva said, although the water had not had time to heat up to normal temperature.

“There were a lot of children with blue lips,” Protiva said. “Every couple of months we seem to have something else break.

“It’s not a complicated system, but it can be difficult to find parts for because it’s a specialty system.”



Contact Kate Rowland at krowlandstayton@gmail.com.