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Old Posted Jan 24, 2007, 3:28 PM
bvpcvm bvpcvm is offline
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Multnomah County (Gresham, Troutdale, Fairview, etc.)

Metro wants towers on empty lots

Gresham - The regional government plans to build condos on the light-rail line
Wednesday, January 24, 2007 CATHERINE TREVISON
The Oregonian

Metro is betting that a trendy combination of restaurant and movie theater, more shopping and cutting-edge condominiums can energize a mixed-use center on Gresham's light-rail line, filling in blank lots and bringing more people and activity to the Civic Neighborhood.

The plan, which includes several condominium towers of six stories and more, could eventually give this low-to-the-ground city its own small skyline, planners say.

The projects involve two of the three plots of land that Metro, the regional government, bought about five years ago -- on the light-rail line where it crosses Civic Drive near City Hall. Metro hopes that by selling the parcels at a discount and helping with other subsidies, it can get private developers to build taller, more attractive projects that concentrate activity near regional transit centers.

Last year, Metro's first such project on Civic Drive became Gresham's tallest building, The Crossings. The five-story structure contains apartments over shops and offices and underground parking. Metro ultimately didn't charge developer Mike Rossman of Peak Development for the land, and it helped obtain several other subsidies, said Phil Whitmore, Metro's transit-oriented development manager.

The next two projects should be even more "aspirational," Whitmore said, with taller buildings, eye-catching architecture and people magnets such as a department store or specialty grocer. Metro planners aren't sure what kind of discounts or subsidies the new projects would receive. A Metro committee chose the developers in November, Whitmore said.
One of them, Fred Bruning of CenterCal Properties, said his plans hinge on whether he can negotiate a shared parking agreement with the city. His proposed tenants, including the theater, would need more room for parking, he said. CenterCal wants to build a parking lot on land the city owns and pay the city rent. The city and a public charter school would use it during the day, while retailers or the theater would use it at night.

Bruning's plan includes the theater and other restaurants and retailers, and two or three condominium towers of six to eight stories each on the hill north of a proposed light-rail station at Civic Drive. The towers would have "enormous views" that could include the Portland skyline, he said.

Bruning also co-owns additional land on the east side of Civic Drive; Metro would like to buy out Bruning's partner and help attract a department store or specialty grocer to that land.

Bruning's vision could cost about $50 million to build, he said. If everything proceeds smoothly, buildings could start opening at the end of 2008 or the beginning of 2009, he said.

The other developer is Rossman of Peak Development. Peak has proposed a $30 million development, if fully built out, opposite The Crossings on the south side of the light-rail line. Metro would like him to build about three or four towers of about six to eight stories; the first project would include a six-story condominium and retail tower with an edgy cantilevered design -- wider on top than on the bottom.

But Rossman said first he must do a feasibility study to see whether the Gresham market would support that many condominiums.

"It's a unique site. It's a rare opportunity. But it comes down to the economics," he said.


©2007 The Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/pr...690.xml&coll=7

Last edited by bvpcvm; Jan 24, 2007 at 3:29 PM. Reason: formatting
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