River District

Future of Urban Renewal
Keep up-to-date on new plans for River District at The Future of Urban Renewal...

River District


Open All | Close All

 

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, Co-Chair - Pearl District Neighborhood Association
  • Patrick Gortmaker, Co-Chair - Old Town/Chinatown (OTCT) Visions Committee
  • David August - Pearl District NA
  • Alexander Mace - OTCT Neighborhood Assoc.
  • Paul Verhoeven - OTCT Neighborhood Assoc.
  • Dan Zalkow - Downtown Neighborhood Assoc.
  • Jamie Dunn - Pearl District Business Assoc.
  • Louis Lee - OTCT Business Assoc.
  • Thomas Shimota - Portland Business Alliance
  • Stephen Ying - OTCT Chinese Community
  • Ed McNamara - Community Partner - Housing
  • Gus Baum - Pacific NW College of Art/ Education partner
  • Nancy Davis - Central Portland Families/Zimmerman Community Center
  • Doug Shapiro - Community Partner - Developer
  • Paul Cathcart - Taxing Jurisdiction – Portland Public Schools
  • Dan Jung - Taxing Jurisdiction – Portland Public Schools (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

 



Sign-up title graphic  for PDC's News & Information E-mail Lists Go back to top of page
View the e-mail archive | Unsubscribe from our e-mail Lists
 
Find us on:  
FacebookYouTubeTwitter  



Portland Development Commission | 222 NW Fifth Ave | Portland, OR 97209-3859
Phone: 503-823-3200 | Fax: 503-823-3368
Banner picture of Portland Skyline
Background for Banner