The property currently holds a vacant training center formerly used by General Motors. Plans are to demolish the structure and develop twin office buildings being designed by Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects Inc. of Portland. ODOT denied Panattoni's initial application because of concerns about cars entering and exiting the roadway so close to the onramp. Panattoni and the state have since begun a "collaboration" process to try and work out a satisfactory resolution.

The current owner of the property is Stephen Barasch. Panattoni has a purchase option to purchase the property that is contingent upon site plan approval and a building permit Panattoni hasn't said how much it signed on to pay for the site, but Oregon Title records have the land alone valued at $2.67 million, and the structure valued at close to $1.4 million. Barasch acquired the site in 1994 for $224,000, according to Oregon Title Insurance Co.

Mike Wells, Panattoni's head man in Portland, says if the state doesn't allow access from the highway, it will either drop its plans to purchase the property of appeal the decision. "This (collaboration) preempted our appeal, and we are hoping for a satisfactory resolution," Wells tells GlobeSt.com. "We've spent quite a bit of time, energy and money on this, and we think common sense will ultimately prevail."