Young Kids' Gridiron Sold for Old-Folks' Home

The city of Lebanon and its school district are selling 6.42 acres off Fifth Street to an owner-developer of assisted living facilities.

Sun West Property Management is paying $487,000 for 4.56 district-owned acres and another $213,000 for an adjacent 1.86 city-owned acres for development of another assisted living facility. The Salem-based company has 40 assisted living and Alzheimer’s facilities in Oregon.

Both sales were approved this week, but are contingent on land use approvals. Together, the properties make up the Lebanon Middle School football field, the surrounding running track and a small baseball field. The football field will be available for use this season despite the sale. A replacement field will be developed.

The property once was part of an 11-acre site that held temporary housing during World War II. The buildings were torn down in the mid-1950s and Century Park established in part of the area soon after.

The sales price is the appraised value of the property. Johnson and Ray Investment Realty of Salem represented the public agencies. Lebanon Real Estate and Western Properties in Eugene represented Sun West.

The school district also has listed three other properties for sale – the Sodaville, Fairview and Tennessee Schools – but has received no offers.