A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY

Located just north of the Hawthorne Bridge, on the eastern bank of the Willamette, this is one of the rare sites where Portland residents can breach the wall of I-5 and gain access to the river. Even in this location the freeway overpass dominates – having been allowed to define a vacant swath of land, it leaves an empty void in the City.  Rather than ignore it, we wanted to re-imagine it.  Could this space become something positive, something special?  Could it be both a place of business and a place for the public? We encourage you to visit for yourself.  Does Portland have the drive to capitalize on its potential?

In the next few months the vacant property long held by ODOT for a defunct vision of a new freeway on-ramp will finally become available for redevelopment.  This is a historic opportunity to engage with the void and replace vacant inaction with a signature project serving both the district and all of Portland. We could create a place that serves the needs of businesses looking for a home in the metropolis—one where they can emerge and evolve, while residents seeking recreational opportunities have the chance to reconnect with the river.  

INDUSTRY AND THE RIVER

Historically the site of docks and shipyards, the Central Eastside of Portland has played a significant role in the city’s economy for more than a century. Enhanced access and increasing property values are transforming this once-dormant sector of the city core. Can this place evolve while retaining a sense of its history and character?  To learn more about both the past and future plans for this dynamic district, check out the following links.:

For a great overview, click Here.

To learn about this area's designation as an industrial sanctuary, click Here.

Look Here for information on the City of Portland's Southeast Quadrant Plan.

Check out the website of the Central Eastside Industrial Council to see how local businesses and property owners are advocating for the district.

Image: City of Portland Archives, Oregon A2004-002.73

A DISTRICT READY TO EVOLVE

Located within the historic architectural fabric of the Central Eastside, a rich mix of thriving businesses serve the industrial needs of the City.  The neighborhood has a character that is flexible, affordable, and gritty, attractive to creative businesses for its aesthetic as well as functional qualities.  This proposal imagines an environment compatible with the district’s character and industrial use while enhancing public access to the river for the entire Eastside of Portland.