By Stephen Floyd
A Woodburn developer has expressed interest in building shops and apartments at the former Wilco tower in Mount Angel, though no plans are official.
Ivan Ivanov, owner of Double I Construction, submitted a site plan last month for a 28-unit apartment complex at 190 S. Main St.
City Administrative Services Director Colby Kemp said Ivanov proposed constructing four multi-story buildings with commercial space on the first floor and apartments above. The proposal would not require zoning variances, said Kemp. Ivanov would need to apply for site design review by the Planning Commission to move forward.
Kemp also said utilities would need to be upgraded for multi-family units.
This comes more than a year-and-a-half after one of the city’s most iconic buildings burned down at the site Oct. 9, 2021. The historic structure, dating back to the early 1900s, was recognizable by its towering silo and was the headquarters of Wilco Farm Coop from 1967 to 2004.
At the time of the fire, four businesses were located on the grounds. Then-owner Bob Bodkin was prepared to rebuild with a mixed-use facility similar to that proposed by Ivanov, but he died unexpectedly on Jan. 10, 2022.
Control of the property passed to the Robert Bodkin Family Trust and trustees decided to clean the property and sell it. Kemp said Ivanov is in talks to purchase the land.
Ivanov is not the first developer to inquire about the property, said Kemp. The city has held meetings with two other prospective builders. He said both developments would have required zoning changes and they did not move forward with site plans.
Kemp said it is “a good sign” Ivanov submitted site plans because it means the city’s development requirements were not dealbreakers. He emphasized plans remain preliminary. No application has been received from Ivanov for a site design review.
