River District

Future of Urban Renewal
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River District


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Urban Renewal Area (URA) Fast Facts

Created: September 1998
Expires: October 2021
Total Acres: 351.2
Boundaries: View the River District URA boundaries.

Objective

  • Generate new private investment and improve the tax base on vacant and underutilized land by developing a wide range of new housing units, new commercial opportunities and open space, all oriented to the Willamette River
  • Retain and enhance Union Station's function as a public asset and transportation center.
  • To foster a "24-hour" city environment for residents, visitors, and employees

River DistrictThe plans call for the creation of a high density urban residential neighborhood in partnership with the City of Portland. The area has a mix of multi-family housing, major office facilities, regional attractions, retail businesses, parks and open spaces. All activities in the River District further the programs and priorities established in the Central City Plan, River District Development Plan, and the River District Housing Implementation Strategy, all adopted by the City Council.

In 1994, the River District Housing Implementation Strategy was adopted by the City Council. This calls for 5,000 new housing units with an average density of 100 units per acre. This also mandates that the mix of new housing meets the income demographics of the City as a whole.

Chinese Garden Public investment in the River District includes:

  • Construction of Central City Streetcar on NW 10th and 11th Avenues, and NW Lovejoy and Northrup Streets
  • Demolition of the Lovejoy and 10th Avenue ramps and reconstruction of those streets at grade
  • Acquisition of land and development of 4.5 acres of park space
  • Phased acquisition and development of the waterfront
  • Construction of the Classical Chinese Garden along with other redevelopment efforts in Old Town/Chinatown
  • Construction of new roads and parking facilities
  • Financing of 2,000-3,000 affordable housing units

Much of this is in a unique partnership with Hoyt Street Properties, a major landowner in the district. Financing comes from:

  • Federal, state and local transportation funds
  • Various housing assistance sources and tax increment proceeds from the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal District (which includes Old Town, Chinatown, and Union Station areas) and the newly created River District Urban Renewal District (which includes the area generally west of NW Broadway).

 

River District URAC

 

Members:

Patricia Gardner

Pearl District Neighborhood Association

Patrick Gortmaker

Old Town/Chinatown Visions Committee

David August

Pearl District Neighborhood Association

Stephen Ying

Old Town/Chinatown  Chinese Community

Paul Verhoeven

Old Town/Chinatown Neighborhood Association

Ed McNamara

Turtle Island Development
(affordable housing)

Alexander Mace

Old Town/Chinatown Neighborhood Association

Tony Jones

Metropolitan Contracting Improvement Partnership

Dan Zalkow

Portland Downtown Neighborhood Association

Ann Hudner

Pacific Northwest College of Art

Jamie Dunn

Pearl District Business Association

Nancy Davis

Central Portland Families

Louis Lee

Old Town/Chinatown Business Association

Tiffany Sweitzer

Hoyt Street Properties (area developer)

Eric Steinmeyer

Portland Business Association

Doug Shapiro

Hoyt St. Properties
(alternate )

Meeting Agendas & Summaries

Programs Available in the River District URA

 

Active Project Areas

Project Areas

  • 9th and Lovejoy Redevelopment — Preparation of a development plan. Project will be a mixed-use site with a grocery store on the ground floor, housing above the ground floor, and parking.
  • Brewery Blocks Development — Participation in the redevelopment of the Blitz Weinhard Brewery property.
  • Creative Services — Development strategies to assist the growth and expansion of the creative services industry in the River District. Provide business assistance services.
  • Jamison Square and North Park Block Development
  • Mixed Income Housing Development
  • Northwest Broadway Urban Design Master Plan
  • One Waterfront Place — Development of the One Waterfront Place building, including public site improvements.
  • Waterfront Acquisition Development — Funds to acquire key redevelopment properties pursuant to the Old Town/Chinatown Development Plan

 

Team Leader

 



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