Oregon State University-Cascades
Oregon State University is getting closer to purchasing additional land for its Bend campus.
The 46-acre pumice mine is right next to the 10 acres already being developed by OSU-Cascades. The university expects to pay more than $7.9 million for the property.
The university has been studying the feasibility of expanding onto the former mine site since 2013.
"We're getting really close," said Kelly Sparks, associate vice president at OSU-Cascades. "We have a little bit of due diligence to finish up. This site offers an incredible opportunity for the university and for students."
Remediation of the site is expected to cost $7 million. Opponents of the campus location have raised concerns about traffic, housing and livability on Bend's west side.
The university is hoping to close on the sale by early next year, at the latest.
If the university doesn't close on the property by the end of January, it must pay the owners $63,000 a month to continue to hold for the sale.
The university has already paid the owners of the pumice mine $680,000 dollars, $580,000 of which will go toward the purchase price.