Spokane Raceway Park is SOLD!
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From: Spokane
Judge OKs county track purchase
Bill Morlin
Staff writer
Spokesman Review
June 26, 2008
Spokane County today formally became the owner of Spokane Raceway Park, a racing complex in Airway Heights.
After five years of legal fights, Superior Court Judge Robert Austin approved the results of an April auction where Spokane County was the highest bidder for the 200-acre racing site and 114 acres of adjoining land for $4.3 million.
Four other private individuals or businesses got the remaining 256 acres.
The judge approved the sale just hours after the Washington State Supreme Court refused to issue an emergency order blocking the hearing.
Seattle attorney Jerome Shulkin had sought the order, contending Austin should have stepped aside and not approved the sale because he attended the auction, creating an impression of bias.
A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, who early this morning said the court hadn't received Shulkin's request for the stay, later said it had been found.
Upon quick inspection, the Supreme Court declined to issue an order stopping today's hearing in Spokane, spokeswoman Lorrie Thompson said.
The largest parcel now owned by the county encompasses a drag strip, oval track and road course that were operated since the early 1970s as Spokane Raceway Park by a limited partnership, Washington Motorsports.
The Spokane County commissioners are expected to select an interim operator soon. It remains unclear whether a cleanup and necessary repairs at the raceway can be done in time to open the facility this summer.
Spokane County parks officials have said they hoped to the raceway open, at least for Friday Night Street Racing, by next month.
Improvements are expected to top $500,000 this years and $300,000 next year. Others in the racing industry say those county estimates for needed improvements are too low and actual costs for taxpayers more likely will approach $2 million.
The judge also approved the sale of the remainder of the one-square-mile Washington Motorsports property to four other high bidders from the April auction.
Marlene Nixon was awarded ownership of two parcels of commercially zoned land fronting on Hayford Road, immediately joining the Northern Quest casino, for $1,326,776. She also bought a third parcel for an additional $81,306.
CPM Development Corp., affiliated with Central Pre-Mix concrete, bought two westernmost parcels containing a gravel pit for $1,640,232. George H. Lawrence III and Kelly D. Lawrence bought another frontage parcel for $387,530. Land investor Walter J. Knopp got ownership of three parcels for a total of $406,855.
The sale generated just under $7.5 million – money that eventually will go to the court-appointed receiver, Barry Davidson, to pay off the partners.
Bill Morlin
Staff writer
Spokesman Review
June 26, 2008
Spokane County today formally became the owner of Spokane Raceway Park, a racing complex in Airway Heights.
After five years of legal fights, Superior Court Judge Robert Austin approved the results of an April auction where Spokane County was the highest bidder for the 200-acre racing site and 114 acres of adjoining land for $4.3 million.
Four other private individuals or businesses got the remaining 256 acres.
The judge approved the sale just hours after the Washington State Supreme Court refused to issue an emergency order blocking the hearing.
Seattle attorney Jerome Shulkin had sought the order, contending Austin should have stepped aside and not approved the sale because he attended the auction, creating an impression of bias.
A spokeswoman for the Supreme Court, who early this morning said the court hadn't received Shulkin's request for the stay, later said it had been found.
Upon quick inspection, the Supreme Court declined to issue an order stopping today's hearing in Spokane, spokeswoman Lorrie Thompson said.
The largest parcel now owned by the county encompasses a drag strip, oval track and road course that were operated since the early 1970s as Spokane Raceway Park by a limited partnership, Washington Motorsports.
The Spokane County commissioners are expected to select an interim operator soon. It remains unclear whether a cleanup and necessary repairs at the raceway can be done in time to open the facility this summer.
Spokane County parks officials have said they hoped to the raceway open, at least for Friday Night Street Racing, by next month.
Improvements are expected to top $500,000 this years and $300,000 next year. Others in the racing industry say those county estimates for needed improvements are too low and actual costs for taxpayers more likely will approach $2 million.
The judge also approved the sale of the remainder of the one-square-mile Washington Motorsports property to four other high bidders from the April auction.
Marlene Nixon was awarded ownership of two parcels of commercially zoned land fronting on Hayford Road, immediately joining the Northern Quest casino, for $1,326,776. She also bought a third parcel for an additional $81,306.
CPM Development Corp., affiliated with Central Pre-Mix concrete, bought two westernmost parcels containing a gravel pit for $1,640,232. George H. Lawrence III and Kelly D. Lawrence bought another frontage parcel for $387,530. Land investor Walter J. Knopp got ownership of three parcels for a total of $406,855.
The sale generated just under $7.5 million – money that eventually will go to the court-appointed receiver, Barry Davidson, to pay off the partners.
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