Wapato Corrections Facility

The Wapato Detention Facility{{Cite web|url=https://multco.us/multnomah-county/wapato-detention-facility|title=Wapato Detention Facility|date=n.d.|website=Multnomah County|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=10 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410093512/https://multco.us/multnomah-county/wapato-detention-facility|url-status=live}} was funded in 1996 by a bond measure defined by Multnomah County Commissioners in Resolution 96–122,{{cite web|url=https://multco.us/file/13159/download|title=Resolution 96-122 1996/1997 Fund Structure|date=11 July 1996|website=Multnomah County|format=PDF|access-date=|archive-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171110225249/https://multco.us/file/13159/download|url-status=live}} and promoted by District Attorney at the time Mike Schrunk and law enforcement as a response to Measure 11. The facility, which cost $58 million,{{cite web |title=Nonprofit Offers Multnomah County $7M For Unused Wapato Jail Site |url=https://www.opb.org/news/article/wapato-jail-multnomah-county-sale-shelter-harbor-hope/ |first1=Amelia |last1=Templeton |date=2018-04-03 |accessdate=2023-03-19 |publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting |archive-date=2023-03-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230319164846/https://www.opb.org/news/article/wapato-jail-multnomah-county-sale-shelter-harbor-hope/ |url-status=live }} in the St.Johns neighborhood{{Cite web|title=Look Inside St. Johns' Unoccupied Jail|url=https://www.wweek.com/arts/2015/11/13/look-inside-st-johns-unoccupied-jail/|last=Spitz|first=Enid|date=November 12, 2015|newspaper=Willamette Week|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=2023-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035100/https://www.wweek.com/arts/2015/11/13/look-inside-st-johns-unoccupied-jail/|url-status=live}} built by the Hoffman Construction Company{{cite news|last=Scopel|first=Lee|url=http://djcoregon.com/news/2001/12/14/construction-moves-forward-on-jail/|title=Construction moves forward on jail|date=December 14, 2001|newspaper=Daily Journal of Commerce|access-date=21 May 2014|archive-date=21 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521183256/http://djcoregon.com/news/2001/12/14/construction-moves-forward-on-jail/|url-status=live}} has sat empty since construction halted in 2003.{{Cite web|title=California developer offers $10 million for Wapato|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/03/post_589.html|last=Allan|first=Brettman|date=2017-03-31|website=OregonLive|language=en|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=2020-11-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111192137/https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2017/03/post_589.html|url-status=live}} In March 2017, a California-based developer offered $10 million for the property. In November 2017 Multnomah County commissioners voted to sell Wapato to Kehoe Northwest Properties for $10.8 million.{{cite news|title=Multnomah County votes to sell Wapato Jail for $10.8M|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/11/09/multnomahcounty-votes-to-sell-wapato-jail-for-10.html|access-date=10 November 2017|newspaper=Portland Business Journal|date=November 9, 2017|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035057/https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/11/09/multnomahcounty-votes-to-sell-wapato-jail-for-10.html|url-status=live}} Later, Kehoe counter-offered $5 million which was accepted and it was sold to Kehoe for $5 million in April 2018.{{Cite web|last=Staff|first=FOX 12|title=Sale of long-unused Wapato Jail in N. Portland finalized for $5 million|url=https://www.kptv.com/news/sale-of-long-unused-wapato-jail-in-n-portland-finalized-for-5-million/article_8bed3e1d-4cae-50fc-99fa-4e0858f90af7.html|access-date=2020-10-11|publisher=KPTV|language=en|archive-date=2023-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035058/https://www.kptv.com/news/|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|last=Montero|first=David|date=2019-02-09|title=This Utah real estate agent is trying to sell a jail. It's not going so well|url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-utah-jail-sale-20190209-story.html|access-date=2020-10-11|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US|archive-date=2020-09-23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923234328/https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-utah-jail-sale-20190209-story.html|url-status=live}} The proceeds from the sale of Wapato were then marked to be used to create permanent housing.{{Cite news|url=https://multco.us/multnomah-county/news/multnomah-county-sells-wapato-jail-proceeds-go-permanent-housing|title=Multnomah County sells Wapato Jail, proceeds go to permanent housing|date=19 April 2018|work=Multnomah County|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=6 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806014248/https://multco.us/multnomah-county/news/multnomah-county-sells-wapato-jail-proceeds-go-permanent-housing|url-status=live}}

As of April 17, 2019, the property is owned by developer Jordan Schnitzer{{Cite news|url=http://portlandobserver.com/documents/2019/apr/17/po-041719-web/|title=Toran Offers a Plan for Wapato|last=Peterson|first=Danny|date=17 April 2019|work=The Portland Observer|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=22 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190422070144/http://portlandobserver.com/documents/2019/apr/17/po-041719-web/|url-status=live}} and is estimated to have a value of $8.7 million.{{Cite web|date=12 April 2016|title=Multnomah County Commission: Regular Board Meeting - Apr 12th, 2018|url=https://multnomah.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=1700&meta_id=118523|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=20 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230920035057/https://multnomah.granicus.com/player/clip/1700?view_id=3&meta_id=118523&redirect=true&h=6a0170973fb75a67ccf9d9f6bf358dbe|url-status=live}} Budget limitations prevented the county from opening the facility and it has never housed an inmate. It has only seen incidental use such as a location for television and movie shoots. It has since become infamous, being featured by media such as CNN's Anderson Cooper.{{cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/03/jailbreak-58-million-prison-sits-empty.html|title=Jailbreak: $58 million prison sits empty|last=Simon|first=Dan|date=March 24, 2006|website=CNN|access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=13 May 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190513180841/http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/anderson.cooper.360/blog/2006/03/jailbreak-58-million-prison-sits-empty.html|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/16/acd.01.html |title=New Election Poll Out; Defending the U.S.-Canada Border |date=June 16, 2006 |publisher=CNN.com Transcripts |access-date=January 13, 2017 |archive-date=October 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003135432/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0606/16/acd.01.html |url-status=live }}

The facility is located in the heavy industrial, aircraft landing zone overlay area. Previously land use regulations prevented its use as a homeless shelter.{{Cite web|date=2017-11-02|title=Wapato Detention Facility|url=https://multco.us/multnomah-county/wapato-detention-facility|access-date=2020-03-03|website=Multnomah County|language=en|archive-date=2020-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200531082353/https://multco.us/multnomah-county/wapato-detention-facility|url-status=live}}

In 2015 a petition was created online to refit the facility to house the homeless{{cite web|url=http://koin.com/2015/12/28/county-empty-wapato-jail-no-place-for-homeless/|title=County: Empty Wapato Jail no Place for Homeless|last=Steele|first=Tim|date=28 December 2015|publisher=KOIN |access-date=28 April 2019|archive-date=16 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171216173229/http://koin.com/2015/12/28/county-empty-wapato-jail-no-place-for-homeless/|url-status=live}} and in August 2016 Multnomah County Commissioner Loretta Smith also further supported the effort.{{cite web|url=http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/10-opinion/320145-199804-my-view-commissioner-loretta-smith-wants-wapato-open-today|title=Commissioner Loretta Smith wants Wapato open "today"|last=Smitth|first=Loretta|date=25 August 2016|website=Portland Tribune|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170116151149/http://cni.pmgnews.com/pt/10-opinion/320145-199804-my-view-commissioner-loretta-smith-wants-wapato-open-today|archive-date=16 January 2017|url-status=dead}} After the sale of the jail to Jordan Schnitzer he also received offers to convert Wapato to a homeless shelter and rejected them because of "cost and distance from other public services".{{Cite web|title=Toran Offers a Plan for Wapato|url=http://portlandobserver.com/news/2019/apr/17/toran-offers-plan-wapato/|last=Peterson|first=Danny|date=April 17, 2019|website=The Portland Observer|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=2020-02-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207220256/http://portlandobserver.com/news/2019/apr/17/toran-offers-plan-wapato/|url-status=live}}

In April 2019, a proposal was made by Kay Toran, who has been the president of Oregon Volunteers of America since 1999, to create a residential treatment program at the facility for adults experiencing addiction and mental health problems. The proposal received support from Schnitzer who called it "fabulous". Before the proposal, Schnitzer had considered using the site as a warehouse for one of his businesses, Harsch Investment Properties. Toran says that if the plan does not receive funding support in the next few years it would likely not be doable.

In October 2019, Schnitzer announced that the plans to convert the facility into a community wellness center to serve the local homeless population had fallen flat. He cited low funding for renovation and a lack of support from elected officials and homeless advocacy organizations in drawing this conclusion. As such, he said, the facility would likely be demolished by the end of 2019.{{cite news|url=https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/10/11/27287641/developer-jordan-schnitzer-admits-wapato-jail-will-probably-be-demolished-by-2020|title=Developer Jordan Schnitzer Admits Wapato Jail Will (Probably) Be Demolished by 2020|date=October 11, 2019|first=Alex|last=Zielinski|work=Portland Mercury|access-date=October 15, 2019|archive-date=October 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191015220221/https://www.portlandmercury.com/blogtown/2019/10/11/27287641/developer-jordan-schnitzer-admits-wapato-jail-will-probably-be-demolished-by-2020|url-status=live}}

File:Bybee Lakes Hope Center entrance - Portland, Oregon (March 2024).jpg

In February 2020, Wapato jail was on track to be renovated into a 228-bed homeless facility with expected opening of September 2020. By then, $4 million in funds had been raised, enough to operate for two years without any structural changes.{{Cite news|last=Sparling|first=Zane|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/454079-370404-bybee-lakes-hope-center-on-track-to-open-this-year-|title=Bybee Lakes Hope Center on track to open this year|date=February 29, 2020|newspaper=Portland Tribune|access-date=March 1, 2020|archive-date=March 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200301071001/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/454079-370404-bybee-lakes-hope-center-on-track-to-open-this-year-|url-status=live}} In May 2020, the building's owner signed a lease with Bybee Lakes Hope Center for this purpose.{{Cite web|title=Wapato: Owner signs lease for Bybee Lakes Hope Center|url=https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/465735-377426-wapato-owner-signs-lease-for-bybee-lakes-hope-center-|last=Redden|first=Jim|date=6 May 2020|website=Portland Tribune|language=en-gb|access-date=2020-05-07|archive-date=2020-06-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200610202225/https://pamplinmedia.com/pt/9-news/465735-377426-wapato-owner-signs-lease-for-bybee-lakes-hope-center-|url-status=live}}

In March 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, the building's owner Jordan Schnitzer and the Oregon Health Authority discussed about potentially using the facility as a treatment center for COVID-19 Coronavirus patients in need of in-patient care, but do not need ICU care.{{Cite web |title=Wapato jail, the future Bybee Lakes Hope Center, offered up as COVID-19 treatment center |url=https://www.kptv.com/news/wapato-jail-the-future-bybee-lakes-hope-center-offered-up/article_d1f43f10-6a48-11ea-bc36-bb742da67698.html |access-date=2020-03-22 |publisher=KPTV |language=en |archive-date=2020-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322064246/https://www.kptv.com/news/wapato-jail-the-future-bybee-lakes-hope-center-offered-up/article_d1f43f10-6a48-11ea-bc36-bb742da67698.html |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2020-03-19 |title=Schnitzer, OHA talking about Wapato for COVID-19 patients |url=https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/schnitzer-oha-talking-about-wapato-for-covid-19-patients/ |access-date=2020-03-22 |publisher=KOIN |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322064245/https://www.koin.com/news/health/coronavirus/schnitzer-oha-talking-about-wapato-for-covid-19-patients/ |url-status=live }}

Wapato facility was dedicated as a homeless shelter on August 12, 2020{{Cite web|last=Vespa|first=Maggie|authorlink=Maggie Vespa|date=August 12, 2020|title=Portland's Wapato Jail rededicated as homeless shelter|url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wapato-jail-to-be-rededicated-as-bybee-lakes-hope-center/283-cb930806-ea94-48d9-9c3d-a7a03e20fb90|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200812193104/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/wapato-jail-to-be-rededicated-as-bybee-lakes-hope-center/283-cb930806-ea94-48d9-9c3d-a7a03e20fb90|archive-date=2020-08-12|access-date=2020-08-12|publisher=KGW|language=en-US|url-status=live}} and it has been in operation since October 2, 2020 with 80 beds, with plans to add approximately 400 beds in December for long-term housing.{{Cite web|last=Acker|first=Lizzy|date=2020-10-02|title=Homeless reentry shelter opens in what was once the never-used Wapato Jail|url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/10/homeless-reentry-shelter-opens-in-what-was-once-the-never-used-wapato-jail.html|access-date=2020-10-10|work=The Oregonian|language=en|archive-date=2020-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201008041936/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2020/10/homeless-reentry-shelter-opens-in-what-was-once-the-never-used-wapato-jail.html|url-status=live}}

Oregon state senators Lew Frederick, Betsy Johnson, Elizabeth Steiner Hayward, and Portland Police Union president Daryl Turner sit on the advisory board of Bybee Lakes Hope Center.{{Cite web |title=Repurposed Wapato Jail will open as a homeless shelter |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/03/repurposed-wapato-jail-will-open-as-a-homeless-shelter/ |access-date=2020-10-12 |publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting |date=2020-10-03 |last1=Ells |first1=Rebecca |archive-date=2020-10-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201011084034/https://www.opb.org/article/2020/10/03/repurposed-wapato-jail-will-open-as-a-homeless-shelter/ |url-status=live }}

Helping Hands Reentry Outreach Center, which oversees 11 shelters throughout Oregon including the Bybee Lakes Hope Center ceased new admissions into this shelter on August 14, 2023 citing funding uncertainties.{{Cite web |date=August 17, 2023 |title='It's all hands on deck right now': Oregon's largest homeless shelter could close in three weeks |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/bybee-lakes-stops-admissions-could-lose-three-weeks/283-9a8f03f4-1db8-451c-8321-1e9f6f986d47 |access-date=2023-09-05 |publisher=KGW |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905060713/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/homeless/bybee-lakes-stops-admissions-could-lose-three-weeks/283-9a8f03f4-1db8-451c-8321-1e9f6f986d47 |url-status=live }} The facility was in danger of having to close in September 2023{{Cite web |date=September 4, 2023 |title=Oregon's largest homeless shelter could be in its last week. Multnomah County will decide |url=https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/bybee-lakes-hope-center-close-multnomah-county-funding/283-1777b2c2-dbe3-4c6e-a875-d3e1ba588aac |access-date=2023-09-05 |publisher=KGW |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-09-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230905061035/https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/the-story/bybee-lakes-hope-center-close-multnomah-county-funding/283-1777b2c2-dbe3-4c6e-a875-d3e1ba588aac |url-status=live }} when Multnomah County approved an emergency grant of $1.5 million in early September, and another of $1.25 million in late September, to keep it operating through at least the end of the year.{{cite news |last1=Hayden |first1=Nicole |title=A look inside Bybee Lakes, the newest shelter to receive Multnomah County funds |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2023/10/a-look-inside-bybee-lakes-the-newest-shelter-to-receive-multnomah-county-funds.html|access-date=March 16, 2024 |url-access=subscription |work=The Oregonian |date=October 28, 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Zielinski |first1=Alex |title=Multnomah County board approves $62 million in unexpected revenue for homeless services |url=https://www.opb.org/article/2023/09/28/multnomah-county-62-million-toward-homeles-services/ |access-date=March 16, 2024 |publisher=Oregon Public Broadcasting |date=September 28, 2023}}

File:Inside Wapato Jail.jpg|Inside the facility during a tour in December, 2019

File:Wapato security system.jpg|Alarm indicator panel

File:Wapato Jail corridor.jpg|Wapato Jail corridor

Wapato_Correctional_Facility_upper_floor.jpg|Wapato Correctional Facility upper floor

{{reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official site|https://www.bybeelakeshopecenter.com/}}
• [https://multco.us/multnomah-county/wapato-detention-facility Official Multnomah County Page "Wapato Detention Facility"]

Category:2003 establishments in Oregon

Category:Government buildings in Portland, Oregon

Category:Homeless shelters in the United States