City of Wenatchee to Remain Patient on North Wenatchee Parcels Despite Surplussing

The Wenatchee City Council voted last week to surplus two large parcels of property in an effort to continue implementing the city's North Wenatchee Master Plan.

Mayor Frank Kuntz said the city must surplus the old state Department of Transportation land, which it purchased last year for $4.3 million, before it can sell the property.

"We've got a ways to go before the buildings are down. We're actually going to have a tenant there for a while." explained Kuntz, "The council gave us the approval at some point to work through the process to sell off some of those parcels. It was just an administrative move so that we have the right to sell when we're ready to do it."

Kuntz added that they are in no rush to sell either parcel.

"There will be a fully signalized intersection there at some point." continued Kuntz, "When that goes in, I think everybody is going to want to have that corner location and so we're being very patient."

A couple of potential buyers looked around and 'kicked some tires', but they were reportedly not willing to pay what the city thinks the land could be worth. Kuntz expects that they will wait for the right buyer at the right price.