South Waterfront continues to be one of the most dynamic environments in the City. Development is proceeding, even as markets have changed significantly since the district was first envisioned. New plans are being laid for a “technology quadrant” resulting from Oregon Health Sciences University’s (OHSU) new campus plans, as well as the Portland to Milwaukie light rail Willamette crossing, which will connect South Waterfront with OMSI on the river’s eastbank.

The City Council adopted the South Waterfront Plan in 2002, sparking immediate development in Portland’s newest waterfront district. OHSU opened its Center for Health and Healing in October 2006; the Meriwether Towers opened in 2006, and Atwater Place and the John Ross in 2007; and the aerial tram began operation in January 2007. Residential construction continues in the district with the 3720 Building, Alexan South Waterfront, and Mirabella Portland. The Portland Development Commission (PDC) continues to explore options to build affordable apartments in the district under changing—and challenging—economic conditions.

A major new development thrust may result from state universities’ exploration of OHSU’s Schnitzer Campus property as the site for a future Oregon University System/OHSU Life Sciences Collaborative. The Collaborative would be a new research and education facility serving OHSU, Portland State University, the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and the Oregon Institute of Technology—as well as private research firms. Preliminary concepts envision a 300,000-square-foot, $250 million building. Universities are in discussion with the Oregon State Board of Higher Education regarding funding.

One of the defining features of South Waterfront is its greenway. The South Waterfront Greenway provides a critical link in the riverfront trail system, balancing the needs of people and a healthy river. In addition to creating a linear park and trail, this project will improve river habitat by grading, stabilizing, and re-planting the river bank. Plans for the South Waterfront greenway are progressing, although the schedule has been extended due to complex environmental permitting processes and property issues. A federal permit is required to build the planned trails and restore habitat along the riverbank.

The Bureau of Parks and Recreation refined the 2004 Plan for South Waterfront’s Central District over the winter of 2007 to reflect new technical information, feedback from environmental regulators, and input and priorities from the community. Parks met regularly with stakeholders and a project advisory committee to understand community priorities and concerns. Parks then performed assessments and developed construction plans that it submitted to the federal government in April 2008. The bureau is working closely with the National Marine Fisheries Service to find a river bank design that complies with federal regulations and meets City goals. It is hoped that greenway construction will begin in the summer of 2009.

The Bureau of Environmental Services (BES) is working with Parks, Planning, and PDC to coordinate with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) on riverbank clean-up sites in South Waterfront. DEQ requires landowners to take certain actions to address on-site contamination, such as removing toxic sources or capping and sealing them to prevent off-site migration. BES is interested in assuring that specific remedies authorized by DEQ also help advance the City’s greenway vision for South Waterfront.

The Planning Bureau has been working on a South Waterfront Greenway Code Update to allow for smother implementation of the South Waterfront Greenway Development Plan (GDP). The update focuses primarily on code amendments that will assist in project reviews when applicants choose the GDP as their preferred option to address required Willamette Greenway improvements. The project may also explore new design guidelines and a few minor amendments to elements of the South Waterfront subdistrict, such as lifting a prohibition on hotel uses in the district above a certain size.

PDC completed a draft South Waterfront Greenway Implementation Strategy in September 2007, which is expected to go before the City Council for approval in the next year. The Strategy will create a framework and funding plan for governance and ownership, construction, and operations and management of the Greenway. It will guide the PDC and Parks in establishing public-private partnerships to achieve full development and successful long-term operation and maintenance of the Greenway.

Parks and PDC are also working on the South Waterfront Neighborhood Park. The Park, a joint project by Portland Parks & Recreation and the Portland Development Commission, will cover two acres in Portland’s burgeoning South Waterfront District. Parks completed public outreach to assist in shaping the final design, which includes an active urban gardens area, a flexible open lawn area with sloped seating, and a naturalized landscape area with shade plantings, stormwater treatment, and a “Song Cycle” art installation that responds to the wind. Most parts of the Park are expected to be open to the public in late summer or fall 2009.

The Portland Office of Transportation updated its South Waterfront District Street Plan, Criteria and Standards. Since the 2003 adoption of the South Waterfront District Street Plan, Criteria and Standards, most of South Waterfront’s Central District has been developed or is in the process of being developed. Significant infrastructure improvements have been completed, including the Portland Streetcar extension to Lowell Street and the Portland Aerial Tram to Oregon Health Sciences University. New transportation studies, such as the 2004 South Waterfront District Transportation Improvements Evaluation and 2006 South Portal Study have also been completed. These accomplishments have generated the need to update the Standards document, including changes to the street lighting design standards, certain street furniture standards, and the modification of the street plan based on the recommendations of the South Portal Study and the City’s new Greenstreet Policy. Other transportation developments include the Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge and the Portland to Milwaukie light rail projects, described elsewhere in this State of the River Report.

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ACTION AGENDA

SWF Greenway Code amendment

The South Waterfront Greenway Code Update will allow for smother implementation of the South Waterfront Greenway Development Plan. The update will be reviewed and approved by the Portland Design and Planning Commission in advance of final adoption by the Portland City Council.

It is anticipated that the Design and Planning Commissions will be asked to hold formal hearings adopting the plan in Winter of 2009 with City Council review following in early spring of the same year.

September 18, 2008 – Design Commission Briefing

October 14, 2008 – Planning Commission Briefing

November 2008 – Public Review Draft*

January 2009 – Design Commission Hearing*

February 2009 – Planning Commission Hearing*

March 2009 – City Council Hearing*

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