The final documents have yet to be signed on the dotted line, but United Way of the Columbia-Willamette may have found a buyer for part of its property at 619 S.W. 11^th Avenue.

Marcie Willms, United Way’s director of marketing and communications, said the agency is in talks with a buyer. However, Willms said she couldn’t comment on the pending sale because it hasn’t been finalized.

“Earlier this spring we started receiving unsolicited offers for the space, something United Way has considered over the years,” she said.

The United Way office is actually two buildings joined by a common façade, she said. One building was built in 1928;  the other was built in 1979. The combined buildings have the same address.

Although Willms  doesn’t know the prospective buyer’s plans for the property, she did say that if the older building is demolished, United Way would move all of its offices into the newer building.

The nonprofit agency also in negotiations with a different buyer for a 10,000-square-foot parking lot it owns at Southwest 13^th Avenue and Southwest Washington Street, she added.

The sale of the properties in no way reflects United Way’s financial status, Willms said.

“We are in great standing right now,” she said.

United Way currently occupies the entire third floor of the two joined buildings. About 10 other tenants fill up the bottom two floors and the basement, Willms said.

“Our plan, should the sale go through, is to occupy multiple floors,” she said.

Several years ago, United Way of the Columbia-Willamette formed a subcommittee to explore the possibility of selling its property.

“The time wasn’t right, but when we began to get offers this spring, it caused the subcommittee to reconvene,” she said.

Melvin Mark Brokerage is handling the sale.

“Both parties have said ‘no comment’ while the final sale is being negotiated,” Peter Andrews, a Melvin Mark broker, said.

Last month, an application for a pre-application conference for the Southwest 11^th Avenue site was submitted to the city by Mortenson Development Inc. The application, submitted by Nate Gundrum of Mortenson on July 31, calls for the demolition of a one-quarter block building to be replaced with a new 221-room, 15-story hotel.

Gundrum did not return phone alls regarding the application.

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