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Sandy property owner Mark Benson is ready to give away several acres of land for free if someone will build a brew pub and restaurant on the land. The nearly 50,000 cars traveling the highway to and from Mt. Hood on peak days make the spot a natural, he says. Dana Tims/Staff

(Dana Tims/Staff)

SANDY -- Nearly 50,000 cars a day, many of them traveling to or from Mt. Hood, pass by a piece of land Mark Benson owns at the western gateway to Sandy.

Benson is so certain that a classy spot for good beer and grub would be perfect here that he's posted a large sign out front with an intriguing offer: "FREE LAND for BREWPUB."

He's even agreeing to be a partner in the construction effort if a serious buyer is willing to take up the challenge.

"I'm looking at a convergence of economic development, tourism and jobs," Benson said. "Plus, quality beer. The ideal combination, right?"

Benson, who owns a Ford dealership in Hawaii, bought the eight acres a dozen years ago, thinking he would open a dealership in Sandy. The deal fell through when he failed to secure a Toyota franchise to go with the Hyundai franchise he'd already lined up.

In the meantime, he started getting familiar with Oregon's burgeoning craft-brewing industry and became convinced the property would be ideal for a large brewpub and restaurant.

Knowing that Sandy's location might be an issue for some, he decided to increase the incentive to build by offering the land for free. Land, that at the moment at least, is vacant and sitting next to an AM/PM market near his sign.

"If it's 2 a.m. and someone (tells the AM/PM cashiers) they want a free case of land, well, I don't want to talk with them," he said, laughing. "But the property has been appraised for about $2 million. I'd think someone will want to take a long look at doing something interesting there."

Seth Atkinson, Sandy's city manager, said the land is zoned for industrial uses and it situated in one of the town's two enterprise zones, which might qualify the right project for additional tax breaks.

Plus, he said, the brewpub idea fits nicely with goals set by the City Council to expand Sandy's restaurant options.

"From everything we're seeing, demand is very high for this type of project," said Atkinson, citing a market survey done last year that showed strong support for additional eating and drinking spots in town.

New jobs created by a large brewpub would be welcome, too, Mayor Bill King said.

"There's already enough traffic on the highway to drive anyone nuts," he said. "But more jobs in Sandy mean our folks won't have to drive every day to where the jobs are in Beaverton or Hillsboro."

For Benson's part, he will gladly be a partner in helping build a brewpub. What he won't be, he added, is a partner in the brewing end of any venture.

"I'm a beer drinker, but I have my limitations," he said. "I don't even want an employee discount."

-- Dana Tims

503-294-7647; @DanaTims