This seems like a good article to start a waterfront thread with, seeing as I couldn't decide where to put it: Yeon structure; 600 ft observation tower (???); storage "towers"; the Mills, etc.
The observation tower idea raised my eyebrow this morning. Of course, this is the same guy, Hanna, who initially proposed 300 ft towers for his storage facility. Interesting that it sounds like this was his proposal for the Yeon/former-McCall's building, and that Saltzman at least is supportive of the idea coming to fruition elsewhere along the waterfront. Could be amazing -- could be embarrassing. My site suggestion: on the post office site where the ramps to the Broadway bridge come together, at what will be (or should be) the north end of the park blocks.
Former McCall's Restaurant in Waterfront Park could be a museum or cafe
The city hopes to draw more visitors to the downtown park along the Willamette River
Monday, August 11, 2008
STEPHEN BEAVEN
The Oregonian Staff
The Portland Bureau of Parks & Recreation has chosen two finalists to redevelop the historic building on the Willamette River that once housed McCall's Restaurant.
The vacant modernist structure in Tom McCall Waterfront Park could be turned into a museum that explores the development of cities across the globe or a facility with a cafe and services for bicyclists and tourists.
The project is one of several under way along the Willamette River as part of city efforts to bring more visitors to the waterfront. One development in the embryonic stage is a 600-foot tower that could include an observation deck and restaurant at the top.
The Parks Bureau expects to make a recommendation on the McCall's site to city Commissioner Dan Saltzman by month's end, said Todd Lofgren, the bureau's business development coordinator. Ultimately, Saltzman will take the proposal to the City Council.
The city wants to boost activity in the area during the rainy season.
"For the off-season," Lofgren said, "it's a matter of providing a hub of activity that improves the security of the park and makes it feel like it's a safe and convenient place."
The building was designed in 1949 by John Yeon and was first used as the Portland Visitors Information Center.
One of the finalists for the space is Bike Republic, a 4-year-old private company that hopes to redevelop the site with a cafe, bicycle rentals, repair and service.
"What we're trying to do is attract bicycles and pedestrians, the park crowd," said owner Ken Nichols.
The cafe has four other locations in Portland, but Nichols declined to provide the name, and the Parks Bureau refused to release the finalists' proposals.
The other finalist is a development that would be called The Center for the City, the brainchild of Chet Orloff, director emeritus of the Oregon Historical Society.
Orloff wants to create a space for classes and public events, with information on the city's history, architecture, urban design and other topics, along with exhibits about other cities.
"Where do you take them (visitors) to learn about the past, the present and future of the city?" Orloff said. "That's what I envision."
Other projects along the river include a new home for Saturday Market being constructed south of the Burnside Bridge in Waterfront Park. And the old Centennial Mills property in the Pearl District is being redeveloped.
And Derek Hanna, a Portland developer, has two projects in the works. One is an environmentally friendly boat-storage facility and restaurant that will feature wind turbines at 306 S.E. Ivon St. north of the Ross Island Bridge. Hanna hopes to start construction in the next 30 days.
His other project is the tower, which also would generate its own energy with wind turbines and solar panels.
Hanna proposed putting the tower at the McCall's site but didn't make the cut. He plans to work with the city and community groups to refine the designs, and already has Saltzman's support.
"Dan is still very interested in seeing this built somewhere near downtown," said Brendan Finn, Saltzman's chief of staff.
Stephen Beaven: 503-294-7663;
stevebeaven@news.oregonian.com
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