Linn County has agreed to purchase the former US Bank building at 205 SW Ellsworth St. for $1.3 million.
Commissioners Roger Nyquist, Sherrie Sprenger and Will Tucker unanimously agreed to the deal Tuesday morning, July 27.
The 12,054-square-foot building was constructed in 1957 and has always housed a bank, until US Bank closed what it called its “community branch” on Jan. 2, 2021.
The building is primarily made of brick and includes a partial second story and basement.
According to records at the Linn County Assessor’s Office, the building is valued at about $1.2 million. It is owned by Mittleman Properties of Portland.
Linn County has been looking for additional office space for some time and tried without success to purchase the former Wells Fargo bank building at First and Broadalbin.
Board Chair Nyquist said he was pleased to be able to secure this much office space and parking for far less than a new building would cost. He estimated a new building would cost “seven or eight times” the county’s offer.