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  #181  
Old Posted Feb 8, 2010, 9:04 PM
JoshYent JoshYent is offline
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We'll have to get a name change on that.....
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  #182  
Old Posted Mar 27, 2010, 3:53 PM
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Beaverton

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/...48342209991000

Creeks, bridges could dot Beaverton’s future downtown

Consultants’ plan would put natural waterways out front and center

By Ed Johnson
The Beaverton Valley Times, Mar 25, 2010

Courtest of the City of Beaverton
One idea of the “Three Creeks Confluence” concept plan presented to city council earlier this month is a public space in the central city that features a water fountain.


What is a “Village of Bridges?” It’s one possible part of the future of downtown Beaverton.
Earlier this month, consultants hired by the city presented the “Three Creeks Confluence” concept plan, which envisions a downtown teeming with open spaces, trails and commercial centers built around improving and beautifying the city’s three creeks, Beaverton Creek, Wessenger Creek and Hall Creek.
Right now, many of the creeks are polluted and underground, or only visible for drainage-ditch type viewing. This plan, developed by Leland Consulting Group, TVA Architects and the Mayer/Reed landscape design firm, would put the natural waterways out front and center.
Here’s a breakdown of the idea:

What is it?

Simply put: More parks, more open spaces, more accessible creeks, better wetlands and more business and civic development based around water resources.
As part of the city’s developing long-range Civic Plan, city staff is looking at a variety of ideas to map into Beaverton’s future. Using the creeks – and numerous walking trails with bridges – as a way to make downtown more approachable is one possible idea that may end up in the plan.
Community Development Director Don Mazziotti said the idea stemmed from the community visioning process, which identified a more walkable central city as a goal, and the city’s need to improve the creeks’ floodplains and water quality.
“This is sort of the first time that a comprehensive, but conceptual, study has been done to say: ‘How do we take this natural resource and enhance it?’” Mazziotti said.

How much will it cost?

Since the plan is just a concept, far from a certainty, Mazziotti said there was no way to tell how much it might cost to complete. He said the concept was one part of the “information gathering” phase of developing the Civic Plan, which should be kicked off officially in June.
“If the Civic Plan identifies this as one of the key elements of the plan, then we would convert it into a project and would create a financing strategy,” Mazziotti said.
When asked if the creek development could be a project that uses urban renewal dollars, should an urban renewal plan be approved by voters, Mazziotti said it was possible, but again, it is too early to tell.
According to Gary Brentano, business development services director, the city has spent about $60,000 on consultants who developed the three creeks plan. (Some work commissioned earlier by the city from Leland Consulting was also used for this concept, city officials said.)

What are the next steps?

If the creek concept plan is adopted into the overall Civic Plan, work will begin to find funding, as well as more concrete details – like specific road mapping – needed to get it from just an idea to a real project.
It will also be important, Brentano said, to work with local landowners to combine public development with private development.
“In order to ensure that people can develop as they choose, we need to provide some certainty,” Brentano said. He added later: “This may take 20 years or longer to come to fruition, but you have to have a framework for how you might do it.”
The reaction?
After hearing the presentation at the March 8 council meeting, council members seemed enthusiastic about the ideas presented in the concept plan.
“It was so much fun to see potential,” said Councilor Cathy Stanton.
Her sentiments were echoed by other councilors.
“It is really very fascinating,” said Council President Marc San Soucie, “to think of how you can convert what is currently a sea of asphalt into real, green and water-filled places for people to be.”


Get with the plan


For more information on the “Three Creeks Confluence” concept plan, visit the city of Beaverton’s council Web site at www.beavertonoregon.gov, click on “current meetings,” then click on the agenda for March 8. A link to the presentation is near the bottom of the document.
Copyright 2010 Pamplin Media Group, 6605 S.E. Lake Road, Portland, OR 97222 • 503-226-6397
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  #183  
Old Posted Mar 27, 2010, 7:07 PM
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That is a great plan and all, but I think the city needs to also pay attention to their lack of downtown. Some form of future plan on this would be nice, how they wish to grow, what they would like to see the downtown look like, how the traffic issues should be handled.

There needs to be something to go with this plan because at the moment this is nothing more than constructing a park in an area in the city. Maybe combining this with the idea of building a new City Hall that would actually function as a center piece for downtown. Maybe even having a district of buildings that are over 6 stories tall might help as well. Also, the city already has a street grid in place, it would be nice to see that actually be important for the city with future developments.
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  #184  
Old Posted Mar 28, 2010, 1:07 AM
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That is a great plan and all, but I think the city needs to also pay attention to their lack of downtown. Some form of future plan on this would be nice, how they wish to grow, what they would like to see the downtown look like, how the traffic issues should be handled.
the plan's available here.
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  #185  
Old Posted Mar 28, 2010, 7:18 AM
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the plan's available here.
Thanks for the link, that puts it in better perspective. I must say, I like the overall plan and it would definitely create a unique downtown for Beaverton which would be a huge plus. I hope that the images that were picked to be used in this powerpoint presentation will be the style of architecture the city focuses on. Also those bridges would be great moments for architects and engineers to show off their talents on small scales. This is what I hope comes from this plan, I worry that it will come out looking ole' timey and faux historical looking, but that is always a common fear.
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  #186  
Old Posted Mar 28, 2010, 3:11 PM
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Yeah, I like this plan a lot. The question is whether there's really the political will to do something like this.

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I worry that it will come out looking ole' timey and faux historical looking, but that is always a common fear.
Unfortunately yes, a huge risk.
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  #187  
Old Posted Mar 28, 2010, 10:36 PM
JoshYent JoshYent is offline
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I like this..........alot, now if only we can gain some more density in the area.....it might be livable =D
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  #188  
Old Posted Mar 30, 2010, 12:53 AM
davehogan davehogan is offline
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I'd love to see Beaverton do something that makes me go out there other than when I need to bail a friend's car out of impound or go to Best Buy. It's kind of weird having the suburbs of a city like Portland being even crappier than the suburbs of a city like San Diego.
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  #189  
Old Posted Apr 14, 2010, 5:10 PM
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Anything new out this direction lately?
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  #190  
Old Posted Apr 16, 2010, 12:14 AM
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Anything new out this direction lately?

not much...just the new hospital...and alot of empty apartments =D
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  #191  
Old Posted Apr 16, 2010, 2:53 PM
jaxg8r1 jaxg8r1 is offline
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not much...just the new hospital...and alot of empty apartments =D
I almost bought a townhouse out that way a month ago, but found a newer house in North Portland that was in my price range.....
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  #192  
Old Posted Apr 20, 2010, 11:24 PM
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Developer proposes hotel, housing and shopping for land next to Nike

http://www.oregonlive.com/beaverton/...t_to_nike.html



Aloha, Breaking News, Business, Washington County »
Developer proposes hotel, housing and shopping for land next to Nike
By Brad Schmidt, The Oregonian
April 19, 2010, 4:05PM
BEAVERTON -- Land next to Nike could be home to a new hotel, commercial shopping and 335 housing units under a concept proposed by developers who recently annexed 26 acres into Beaverton.

Representatives for Metropolitan Land Group will meet with city planners Wednesday for a pre-application conference to discuss the proposal. No formal application has been submitted for the land, a former mobile-home complex, on the northeast corner of Murray Boulevard and Jenkins Road.

The concept calls for an 84,500-square-foot hotel featuring 133 rooms, with limited conference facilities. It also includes four commercial buildings totaling almost 35,000 square feet. The hotel and commercial space would be nearest the Murray/Jenkins intersection, on about 7.7 acres.

"It's likely that the commercial development will occur in phases rather than all at one time," according to documents submitted by the developer.

The developer also wants to build 335 housing units on about 18.5 acres. The concept calls for 112 condominiums in eight buildings, along Jenkins, and 221 detached single-family homes on the northern section of land.

The homes would be three stories, ranging between 1,200 square feet and 2,000 square feet. Each house would be six feet apart, with garage access through back alleys and "common greens" in front.

Also included in the concept: an on-site clubhouse and swimming pool.

Representatives for the city of Beaverton and Metropolitan Land Group did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

-- Brad Schmidt
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  #193  
Old Posted Jul 5, 2010, 3:20 PM
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http://djcoregon.com/news/2010/07/02...r-list-to-two/
Beaverton narrows master developer list to two
POSTED: Friday, July 2, 2010 at 03:01 PM PT
BY: Nick Bjork
Tags: Beaverton, Gerding Edlen Development, Specht Development

The city of Beaverton announced today that a selection committee narrowed the list of possible developers for the five-year Beaverton master developer contract down to two firms.

The two firms are the Portland-based Gerding Edlen Development and the Beaverton-based Specht Development.

The same selection committee, comprised of various city employees, will now interview both firms personally and make a final selection. The committee is slated to make a selection by early next month.

Gerding Edlen Development scored the highest on its initial proposal, receiving a score of 234 out of a possible 268 points. Specht scored a total of 214.8.

The master developer will be responsible for assuming the role of a development consultant, serving as a fee developer and proving that the firm can bring financing to the table for potential public-private projects.
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  #194  
Old Posted Jul 10, 2010, 7:52 PM
mcbaby mcbaby is offline
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I think this idea is super awesome. Seoul took on a more ambitious "daylighting" project but it has only payed off tenfold for the city's citizens and visiting tourists.
see link: http://lacreekfreak.wordpress.com/20...cheon-project/
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  #195  
Old Posted Jul 30, 2010, 1:39 AM
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Post Beaverton | Progress Ridge TownSquare Development

major project, major money...seems like a lot of projects starting up.



Beaverton Progress Ridge development secures funding
POSTED: Thursday, July 29, 2010 at 07:40 AM PT
BY: Nick Bjork

Barry Cain, president of Gramor Development, sits in front of a 20-acre Beaverton site that will be transformed inot a 325,000-square-foot town center called Progress Ridge TownSquare. Gramor earlier this week secured a $45 million U.S. Bank loan that will helo pay for the $60 million project. (Photo by Dan Carter/DJC)

Barry Cain, president of Gramor Development, sits in front of a 20-acre Beaverton site that will be transformed into a 325,000-square-foot town center called Progress Ridge TownSquare. Gramor earlier this week secured a $45 million U.S. Bank loan that will helo pay for the $60 million project. (Photo by Dan Carter/DJC)

After five years of planning, Tualatin-based Gramor Development is finally making progress on the long awaited Progress Ridge TownSquare in Beaverton.

Gramor has secured a $45 million loan from U.S. Bank to start work on the $60 million, 325,000-square-foot Progress Ridge TownSquare project that has been in the works since 2005. Gramor will be contributing $15 million toward the development, which is set to open in September 2011.

Gramor’s announcement comes a month after the company sold the Albertsons-anchored Vancouver Market Center for $11.2 million to the New York-based Retail Opportunity Investments.

Progress Ridge, located on Southwest Barrows Road near the unincorporated neighborhood of Bull Mountain, is a 20-acre development that will be anchored by a 41,000-square-foot New Seasons Market to the east and a 50,000-square-foot luxury theater called Cinetopia to the north. Ground was broken last year on a Big Al’s Family Bowling and Entertainment Center, which will anchor the south side of the property after it opens - perhaps next month. Nine other leases have been signed by people representing a credit union, restaurants and a host of nail and hair salons.

According to Barry Cain, president of Gramor Development, 408,000 people - with an average household income of $108,000 - reside within a 15-minute drive of the site.

“We think this development isn’t only going to be a boom for the area, but a boom for the entire retail community in the Portland area,” Cain said. “Getting this financing lined up shows that money is available for good retail in a good location.”

The project is a big boost for the market. At the end of the second quarter this year, CoStar, a commercial real estate database, reported only 29,099 square feet of retail space under construction.

The loan, which is the largest retail construction loan to be processed in the Portland area since the beginning of the recession, is a clear indicator that Portland is moving through the recession, Cain said.

Gramor has overcome several bumps to reach this point.

In 2005, Gramor proposed building a two-story Fred Meyer on the Progress Ridge site, but the plan fell through because the proposed size exceeded Beaverton’s grocery outlet size limit for the area.

Then, in 2007, both Cinetopia and New Seasons approached Cain about the property, but the recession stalled any deals before they could be finalized. When both tenants finally committed last year, Big Al’s happened to be looking for a location in the Portland area, Cain said.

“We think this is going to be much better than the original 2005 proposal,” he said. “Here we have three anchor tenants that haven’t only held on, but excelled during the recession.”

In the space of 15 minutes at the construction site on Thursday, two nearby residents and an employee with Stanley Security asked Cain about the development and what kind of work will be available.

Cain believes the development will attract tenants that will create 800 to 1,000 permanent retail and office jobs to the area. The project also is expected to support as many as 2,000 construction jobs over the next year.

There is still room for about 30 more tenants. Cain is looking specifically for two restaurants to occupy the development’s west side, where there will be a pond, a fountain for children and a small vineyard.

Cain added that Gramor is moving construction equipment out to the site this week and will be breaking ground officially on the road work next week.
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  #196  
Old Posted Jul 30, 2010, 3:47 AM
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finally, someone's addressing the tragic lack of strip malls in the suburbs!
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  #197  
Old Posted Jul 30, 2010, 9:24 PM
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finally, someone's addressing the tragic lack of strip malls in the suburbs!
BadaBING!!! (my thoughts exactly)
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  #198  
Old Posted Aug 1, 2010, 3:32 AM
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Its stunning that this development can get bank funding but the moyers building half done and half leased in an established Downtown can't.
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  #199  
Old Posted Aug 1, 2010, 8:29 AM
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Its stunning that this development can get bank funding but the moyers building half done and half leased in an established Downtown can't.
All the anchor tenants are signed on, plus several of the smaller tenants. If only half of the anchor spaces were taken, this wouldn't get financing either.

Personally, I would prefer PAW doesn't restart until the market's picked up enough to revert to the original 33-34 story design. Having a chopped-off 27-story PAW next to a 27-story Fox Tower is gonna look awkward.
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  #200  
Old Posted Aug 2, 2010, 7:23 AM
JoshYent JoshYent is offline
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All the anchor tenants are signed on, plus several of the smaller tenants. If only half of the anchor spaces were taken, this wouldn't get financing either.

Personally, I would prefer PAW doesn't restart until the market's picked up enough to revert to the original 33-34 story design. Having a chopped-off 27-story PAW next to a 27-story Fox Tower is gonna look awkward.
Agreed...........height equals future prosperity for downtown.......reducing the height will only put yet another roadblock in the proper development of buildings that can accommodate larger tenants downtown. By having one block be built 6-7 stories taller will mean future growth even if only slightly for the local economy. Progress Ridge is excellent for people living in the outlying areas such as Scholls, Bald Peak, Midway, Sherwood etc....However it has different clients than the PAW.
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