Portland demolition and construction is booming as the city’s its urban core expands. From new construction to building renovations, the area is experiencing a record number of active construction projects. In 2017, Portland had 45 projects on the books, the highest number documented since Downtown Clean & Safe began releasing its development and redevelopment reports, which gauge economic activity and vitality. Much of this growth is happening in Central City, an area divided into 10 sub-districts that stretch from the Lloyd and Pearl districts to South Waterfront and Powell Boulevard, as well as from the West Hills to SE 12th Avenue. An additional 56 projects are anticipated for 2018 and beyond, keeping construction and demolition companies in Portland busier than ever.
Portland’s Development and Redevelopment Initiatives
Housing
As the largest city between San Francisco, CA, and Seattle, WA, Portland has an attractive second-tier real estate market that has exploded across various sectors, making it a great place to live and do business. While Downtown Clean & Safe’s 2017 development and redevelopment report is positive in regard to Portland’s future, it also acknowledges the city’s affordable housing crisis, noting that City Hall is making the issue a priority. A great percentage of the new residential units in Central City are luxury multi-family housing units that many who work there can’t afford.
Since 2010, Portland has added 5,000 new residential units, including affordable and luxury units. In 2017, 18 projects with 3,000 residential units were under construction. An additional 14 projects that would bring 2,400 more units were under consideration.
Hospitality
Portland’s hotel industry was unexpectedly strong in 2017. The city added three completed hotels, with seven more under construction. By 2019, Portland will have an additional 1,250 rooms. Additionally, another eight hotels that were in the design phase in 2017 would give the city 2,100 more rooms. The development and redevelopment report states that downtown will see a 40 percent growth in hotel rooms.
U.S. Post Office
One of the largest projects Portland demolition contractors will work on is the redevelopment of the 13-acre post office site at the downtown end of the Steel Bridge. The project will create about 3.8 million square feet of mixed-use development.
Prosper Portland Grants
Portland’s economic and urban development agency, Prosper Portland, awarded $1.7 million in Community Livability Grants to 21 projects for fiscal year 2017 – 18. The projects are located in five urban renewal areas: Interstate, Gateway, Lents, Central Eastside and Old Chinatown.
The agency awards grants to projects that support expanding workforce service facilities and community center improvements, as well as honor Portland’s culture and history. In turn, grant recipients help elevate the local economy by contracting with certified disadvantaged, emerging, minority-owned, or woman-owned businesses in Oregon. Projects that improve access to workforce development services and jobs, support small-businesses wealth-creation opportunities, and enhance and honor a neighborhood’s history and cultural diversity are among those that receive priority.
Central City 2035 Plan
Central City’s 2035 Plan will replace its 1988 Plan. The plan serves as the area’s primary guiding policy document and includes policies, goals and zoning tools to help make the city’s urban core more sustainable, innovative and robust. The 2035 Plan honors Portland’s history and build’s on its traditions. It includes updates to the 1987 Willamette Greenway Plan to create a multipurpose, vibrant Willamette riverfront.
The 2035 Plan anticipates that between 2010 and 2035, the number of Portland households will increase 163 percent—from 23,000 to 60,500. It encourages developing of green spaces, increasing employment opportunities, increasing mixed-use zoning, creating new affordable housing, adding seismic upgrades, supporting historic preservation and improving safety.
As Central City’s construction boom continues, Portland demolition contractors will play a vital role in preparing and remediating project sites. If your firm is considering a project in the Portland area, contact Elder Demolition to discover how our green demolition services can help save money and earn LEED points.