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Interest runs high in Dallas mill site -- auction is Aug. 28

DALLAS -- The news that Weyerhaeuser will auction its Dallas mill property at the end of the month brings the possibility of long-awaited activity to the shuttered mill site.

Jolene Guzman

August 07, 2012

DALLAS -- The news that Weyerhaeuser will auction its Dallas mill property at the end of the month brings the possibility of long-awaited activity to the shuttered mill site.

"We've been hoping something would happen there since it closed," said Jason Locke, Dallas' community development director.

The mill and surrounding property owned by Weyerhaeuser are all slated to be auctioned on Aug. 28 at 11 a.m.

The auction does bring uncertainly about a parcel currently in use by a local business and the city of Dallas, though.

The parcel includes the land Van Well Building Supply and the Dallas Fire Department's training facility are located on. Each currently has a lease with Weyerhaeuser, which would be transferred to the new buyer if purchased. Van Well also has a lease for one of the warehouse buildings for storage of building supplies on the mill site.

Locke said for the city to bid on the parcel would be complicated, as Van Well also has an interest in what happens with the property.

"The city might have interested in bidding, but we're not sure how to go about it," Locke said.

Bill Hahn, Dallas' fire chief, said Locke and Interim City Manager Jon Nelson are currently looking into the city's options regarding the training facility.

"We have been talking with them (Weyerhaeuser) for quite some time about having the property donated to us," Hahn said. "That, evidently, hasn't gone any further at this point."

The department uses about 1.4 acres of the parcel for training. It includes a tower that was built the 1980s.

Hahn said the department hasn't considered what it will do if the property is sold.

"It depends on who the new owners are and what they might choose to do," Hahn said. "We are just playing it by ear now."

Carl Van Well, the owner of Van Well Building Supply, said Monday, due to timing issues, that he could not comment on his options at this time.

Locke said uncertainty not withstanding, from the city's perspective, having a new owner for the mill site could be good news. He said the city will be watching with interest what happens on Aug. 28.

"We are certainly hoping it does change hands and put to use as a mill or other use that generates jobs," Locke said.

For more information about the auction go to: www.johndixon.com.