The Packwood Mill, which was closed in 1998 and purchased by Hampton Lumber Company, has been sold to developers.
Its new owners will be in Packwood adjacent to the mill site at the Tail Race aqueduct underpass on Friday, Oct. 14, at noon for a meet-and-greet with the public. The sale of the 131-acre lot has big implications for the rapidly developing East Lewis County community, according to Lewis County Senior Long Range Planner Mindy Brooks.
“The mill site is the unofficial entryway to Packwood and is an important redevelopment opportunity,” she said.
Both Hampton Lumber and the mill’s new owners, Dave Campos and Joel Stirling, of Battle Ground company Commerce Meadows, are opting to keep the sale price undisclosed at this time, according to Campos.
Other than an annual Sports Car Club of America tour, auctions and the flea markets, the site has remained largely unused for 20 years, Brooks said. The site is currently zoned for a mix of industrial and residential uses.
A community-driven subarea plan, headed by Brooks, is underway, which may result in changes to the zoning and allowed uses at the site.
“I have enjoyed hiking and skiing in East Lewis County for many years and have watched the town of Packwood develop into a hub for outdoor enthusiasts from across the Pacific Northwest,” stated Campos in a news release. “I’m excited to combine my love for this area with my real estate business and am looking forward to becoming part of this community.”
Stirling added he has over 25 years in real estate development and “cannot think of a more beautiful area to do a project and I’m grateful to have the opportunity to be part of such a great community and look forward to growing with it.”
More information about the Packwood Subarea Plan is available on https://lewiscountywa.gov/departments/community-development/ and a community open house event on the plan will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 22 in the Packwood Community Hall.
