Community college purchases nursery property

Land was part of BBCC's original campus

The former conservation district nursery property has itself been conserved.

Big Bend Community College recently purchased the property, after a unanimous decision by the college's board of trustees Friday.

It's a return of sorts for the property, which was part of the community college's original campus.

"The conservation district decided to go out of business and they wanted to sell their assets," explained Bill Bonaudi, president of BBCC. "The quick claim deed that they had on the property when they purchased it originally from the college contained a clause guaranteeing the college a right of first refusal. We weren't out looking for property at all, but when they shut down, we were given the first opportunity, and that's why the board acted."

Bonaudi said that there were no definite plans for the property, and that college operations were not anticipated for the 11 acres of land.

"Rather, we would like to use it some way to provide a revenue stream to support college operations," he said. "In moving from that site, we consolidated college operations out here on our current campus, and our efforts to decentralize operations are reaching out into surrounding communities rather than another region of Moses Lake."

Bonaudi said that the community college had originally rented the property to the conservation district, and ultimately agreed to sell it to them when it moved to its current location.

The conservation district nursery closed in November as a result of decreased demand for plants and trees that would provide windbreaks and shade, in favor of decorative plants.

The purchase price is $155,000.