Urban renewal in Lents
PORTLAND, OREGON - Jan 16, 2014 - Pedestrians and car commuters head home as seen from the Lents Max Station. Lents is a busy spot as the Max train and cars come together in the shadow of I-205.
(Thomas Boyd/The Oregonian)
Portland's urban renewal agency has lined up interest from four development teams -- including the high-profile duo of Homer Williams and Dike Dame -- to build new housing and retail projects in Lents.
With city subsidies and viable financial plans, any of the projects could move toward construction in the next two years.
The Portland Development Commission owns six acres that would be involved in the deals, and Mayor Charlie Hales has made getting projects off the ground in Lents a high priority. If any moves forward, it would mark a significant accomplishment with the investment of tens of millions of dollars in the east Portland neighborhood.
Lents leaders learned vague details of the potential projects at a neighborhood association meeting Tuesday night.
Two PDC representatives outlined the options and said they've forwarded recommendations to Patrick Quinton, the agency's executive director, to begin formal negotiations with the developers.
- Palindrome Communities, which includes Portland brewery owner Chad Rennaker, wants to build a mixed-use project with housing and office or retail space on baseball fields near Southeast 92nd Avenue and Harold Street. The development team also has expressed interest in the privately held New Copper Penny site and land around the Chevron gas station across the street.
- Williams & Dame Development is eying the northwest corner of 92nd Avenue and Foster Road for a mixed-use project with housing and retail. Williams is one of the city's most prominent developers, playing key roles developing the Pearl District, South Waterfront and Forest Heights.
- ROSE CDC is interested in the so-called "goat block," on that same corner, to build market-rate housing with retail and office space. The property earned its name when goats, which had been in inner Southeast Portland, moved to their new east Portland location.
- REACH Community Development and an Asian Health and Service Center are looking at land next to
Jesse Cornett, the neighborhood association president, asked the Portland Development Commission why any of these projects might pan out when others haven't in the urban renewal district.
"We have resources," said Kevin Cronin, a senior project manager. And, he added, "We've got qualified developers who are interested."
Next, the PDC is expected to begin negotiating memorandums of understanding or disposition and development agreements.
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Reading:
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Willamette Week: Fired Up, Commissioner Diane McKeel's husband pulled strings with county officials.
-- Brad Schmidt
bschmidt@oregonian.com
503-294-7628
@cityhallwatch