Complex decision: Sustainable Waterfront Example

The River District encompasses about 250 acres in northwest Portland.  The District was historically a rail, shipping and warehouse area. In 1992 a handful of business leaders and property owners began working with the city to forge an overall vision for the River District. They developed a plan and public/private financing strategy for transforming the rail yards and gritty industrial properties into a densely populated neighborhood that would be oriented to the Willamette riverfront. 

Testing conducted in 1997 determined that soil contamination in the area was pervasive. For this reason, 70 acres were designated a Brownfield site.  A Brownfield is a site where contamination – or the possibility of contamination – is preventing use or redevelopment. This issue posed the greatest redevelopment challenge, particularly for residential development.

Brownfield redevelopment is a smart land use.  Brownfield sites are generally located in urban centers and have existing transportation systems.  Cleaning up and reinvesting in these sites protects the environment, reduces blight, and takes development pressures off green spaces and working lands.  However, communities are often reluctant to consider Brownfield sites for redevelopment because of the high cost to achieve stringent cleanup standards (which can often exceed the market value of the property) combined with the potential liabilities imposed under traditional federal and state environmental law.

The public/private financing was critical to overcoming this challenge. The River District is a bold statement in quality inner-city development. It has been transformed into a vibrant urban community, with multiple historic neighborhoods, integrated affordable housing, an artist community, and a developing waterfront on the Willamette River.  Situated in the heart of the River District, Union Station is the most visible and architecturally distinctive building in the area.