Category Archives: development

Support NECN, Donate!

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From the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods:

Dear Neighbors and Friends,

With your participation and support, we engaged thousands of neighbors to work together on opportunities to strengthen the inner Northeast Portland community. And, we even had a couple of fun social celebrations!

Serving as a community resource hub, the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods, an independent 501c3 nonprofit organization, supported community members and neighborhood associations as they weighed in on timely and critical issues including the Portland Plan, Urban Renewal Areas, the Education System, City Code, Cell WiMax Towers, Police Accountability, and more. We helped neighborhood-specific efforts too!
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Vanport 3: Vacant Lot, Clinic, or Trader Joe’s?

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Original King Commercial Center Sketch

Meetings were held recently at Curious Comedy so that the Portland Development Commission could update the Vanport business owners and members of the Vanport Project Advisory Committee. The topic was the unsolicited proposal the PDC has received to complete Phase 3 of the project. This phase is the keystone of the development that would provide a landmark building at the corner of Alberta and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. The project has struggled to attract an anchor tenant necessary to get the project going and attract smaller retailers to participate. Lacking that commitment and considering the adverse economic climate, the project was put on hold.

In order to anchor the project, a grocery store was the main focus of negotiations between developers, PDC, and retailers. Various companies were approached and some expressed interest but none would commit to the site. 24 Hour Fitness became the main prospect for an anchor but backed out. In the time since the first plans for Vanport were made, the site has been ringed by new fitness clubs, gyms and grocery stores. New Seasons built the Concordia Store at 33rd and Killingsworth, Arbor Lodge store at Interstate and Rosa Parks, and is rumored to be negotiating a deal to build again at Williams and Fremont. Whole Foods took over the Nature’s at 15th and Fremont and Safeway has just begun another remodel of its King store and will be adding more organic and “natural” items.

The latest proposal would consist primarily of a post-surgical rehabilitation clinic, offices for the Urban League, and only 5000 square feet of retail. The clinic was estimated to bring in foot traffic of only 100 people a month. Sara King of PDC said at the meeting that the proposal, in its current form, falls short of PDC’s expectations for the project. Ray Leary went a bit further, saying: “There’s not enough lipstick . . . to dress up this pig.”

One thing neighbors have said they wanted to see at the site that would complement the current offerings is a Trader Joe’s. Indeed, there have been ongoing negotiations with the retailer but developers Ray Leary and Jeff Sackett have been told “not now.” Trader Joe’s typically has its customers drive as far a 10 miles to shop at their stores and the company fears a new store at this location would take too much business from its Hollywood location. Trader Joe’s would not necessarily be dissuaded by other grocers in close proximity due to its niche business model.

When the Vanport businesses purchased their spaces in phase 1, they were told by PDC to be patient in waiting for the completion of the project in a way that would bring the traffic to make thier businesses thrive. In the end, it seemed the concensus was that this project was not what they had been waiting for and if given the choice, they would rather go on waiting for the right anchor tenant than see this project get built.

Vanport Housing Project to Go Forward

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In February of 2010, PDC staff received a proposal from Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. to develop ten single-family, market-rate homes on the Vanport Phase II site. In June of this year, PDC’s Investment Committee gave staff authorization to begin negotiations with Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. for the disposition and development of the Vanport Phase II housing project.

The development team of Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. will retain the Vanport Partners as consultants, with their involvement in the project ending at the start of construction. Once securing control of the land, Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. would begin the site subdivision process which is estimated to take nine months. While the site subdivision is moving forward, Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. would simultaneously pursue design and permitting. Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. estimates construction could begin 12 to 18 months after execution of a development agreement with PDC and completion of all housing units 12 to 36 months after start of construction.

Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. is a small builder/developer that developed affordable, market-rate, in-fill projects in Portland. Irving Park Townhouses on NE 7th is one example. Lisac Brothers Construction, Inc. is confident that it can obtain construction financing for the proposed project and has submitted a letter of interest from Lewis & Clark Bank to support this.

The development team is proposing to build ten (10) detached, market-rate homes averaging 1,300 sf on separate lots. The homes would be three levels, with the ground level primarily devoted to a garage that would be accessed from the rear through the Vanport Phase I parking lot or in the case of the end units, NE Emerson and NE Sumner. The sales price per unit is estimated to be between $245,000 and $265,000.

PDC Report: Vanport Housing

Vanport Square III Proposal Forgoes Retail

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Rendering of the original plan for the "King Commercial Center"

Businesses in the Vanport Square development are concerned about plans under consideration to complete the project on the vacant block at Alberta and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. with an office and clinic instead of retail. Long envisioned as the cornerstone of the partly-built Vanport Square development, Phase 3 has suffered many delays. Originally intended to be anchored by a new grocery store or 24 Hour Fitness, the Portland Development Commission has struggled to attract a commitment to the project.

At one time, PDC tried to lure a call center to locate in Vanport as retailers shunned the site. Once again, PDC appears to be changing its plan for the project and looking to consider development even if it doesn’t result in retail-based neighborhood center that could bring life back to this stretch of King and survival to the isolated businesses already there.

According to KNA’s Alan Silver who attended the last PDC public meeting to mention the plan:

PDC has been approached by two development teams about Vanport phase 3. One proposal would include the Urban League, medical offices, and commercial; the other team includes Jeff Sackett (one of the developers of Vanport Square), and its proposal includes commercial real estate, including negotiations with an anchor tenant whose identity the team is “not disclosing publicly at this time.”

The PDC is ‘gathering information’ on these two proposals at present. It expects to have no funds available to aid developers of Vanport phase 3, who will have to rely entirely on private financing to complete construction.

Vanport Square, aka the King Commercial Center, is the keystone in the future of Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in the King Neighborhood. Without the original long-term vision being realized, King’s center could be resigned to many years of low property values in a district that does not create a pedestrian friendly environment. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. and Vanport is caught in a “catch 22” situation where a lack of businesses fails to attact foot traffic. Lack of foot traffic fails to attract businesses. If a proposal is accepted that is not retail based at the street level, the long sought-after connection between the existing Vanport development and the Alberta corridor will not be fulfilled.

The Portland Development Commission has scheduled two informational meetings held December 21, 2010 for Vanport Project Advisory Committee (PAC) members and Vanport Square business owners. A morning meeting will be held to accommodate Vanport Square businesses and an evening meeting will be targeted to PAC members.

The purpose of the informational meetings is to outline the developer selection process and to clarify the role of the PAC in the selection process. As this meeting is scheduled only a few days after the developer’s submissions are due, PDC says they won’t be able to answer a lot of questions about the specific projects; however, they will schedule future meetings as their process develops.

Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series Begins Dec. 1st

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Via the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability:

Presented by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, City Club of Portland and Portland State University, the Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series offers collaborative approaches to city policy-making and planning from national experts and local panelists. The series will highlight how other cities are tackling economic development, community health, education and equity, as well as lessons on how to create complete communities and make the most of our natural systems. The Portland Plan – Inspiring Communities Series can help us think critically about the next steps we should take as a community to become more sustainable, equitable and economically secure.

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