Why Washington's Clark County Is Interested In Wapato Jail

By Molly Solomon (OPB)
June 8, 2018 12:31 a.m.
Wapato Jail in North Portland was completed in 2004. It has sat empty ever since.

Wapato Jail in North Portland was completed in 2004. It has sat empty ever since.

Kayo Lackey / OPB

Washington’s Clark County is looking across state lines as it considers solutions for its aging and overcrowded jail. One possibility: leasing Portland’s Wapato Jail.

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As first reported by the Oregonian/OregonLive, Clark County Council chair Mark Boldt recently reached out to Portland developer Jordan Schnitzer, who bought the Wapato Jail property from Multnomah County in April.

The conversation was sparked by conservative talk show host Lars Larson, who had Boldt on as a guest last week.

Boldt told OPB he’s optimistic that Wapato could be used temporarily while the county decides whether to remodel or replace its current jail.

“I don’t think it’s long term, and it’s just one piece of the puzzle,” he said.

It’s also not the first time Clark County has considered this option. In 2006, county officials held preliminary meetings with Multnomah County commissioners about leasing the $58 million facility that was built – but never used as a jail – in 2004 to house 500 minimum-security inmates.

Boldt was on the board of commissioners at the time and remembers touring the facility. The county ended up successfully lobbying to change state law to allow inmates from Washington state to be housed across state lines.

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But a deal between Wapato and Clark County never materialized.

“They wanted too much money to run it,” Boldt said. “So, it just didn’t pencil out.”

The Clark County jail was built to accommodate 300 beds, but currently houses an average of 750 inmates.

County councilors are looking at options for remodeling the current jail or building an entirely new facility, some plans with a price tag of up to $300 million.

Councilor Eileen Quiring said in an email that this was the first she’d heard about a plan to lease Wapato, but added “if it is feasible, and it saves taxpayers money, we should look at it.”

The council recently formed a 21-person Correction Facility Advisory Commission to come forward with a recommendation to the council by November.

Commission chair Craig Pridemore said Boldt brought up the idea at a steering committee meeting earlier this week.

“We agreed that everything should be on the table,” said Pridemore, who plans to add leasing Wapato to the list of considerations before the commission.

But he also remained skeptical, stressing that the commission’s work had only just begun.

“We’re still in the fact-finding stage,” Pridemore said. “So, it’s way too early to say whether Wapato or any other option is viable or realistic.”

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