If the way Portland behaves now is any indicator, I'm not surprized that Portland wanted to court the shiniest of objects instead of the easiest, most logical, most relevant. What a waste and a shame.
So the question is whether City elected and appointed officials have learned anything constructive from this governance fiasco in terms of seeing the site developed in a responsible manner? And what is the culpability of former City officials in spending countless millions of dollars that we taxpayers dutifully paid from our earnings? Do they just walk off into the sunset free of any accountability?
While there was some "citizen involvement" its tends to be more proforma than earnest engagement. And, the more citizen involvement does not assure a better outcome.
I agree. The current proposal to suspend design review is a good example of citizens who have no design/planning/or architectural training threatening to undo decades of Portland’s award winning urban design standards in the pursuit of assuming that housing inequity is a result of design review.
In a sane world, Prosper Portland’s statement on Centennial Mills would necessitate its board writing “Government Speak” 100 times in the dirt of the demolished Centennial Mills.
#1. The PORTLAND Development Commission changes its name to Prosper PORTLAND, and then claims the project is too Portland. Where's DOGE when you need em'.......
#2. We would do the same thing again today with a city council that demonizes anyone that is a developer. Satan is more welcome here.
#3. "they decided you can only have one thing"........unless that one thing is the Keller Auditorium.
This piece seems to simplify the crucial period between 2009 and 2011. PDC’s September 2009 assessment supported further design work, but explicitly identified financing risks, uncertain rental income, and unknown environmental and structural costs. Relocating the mounted police unit and its stables remained another unresolved obstacle in 2010. PDC subsequently cited a lack of tenant and financing commitments, although Sadeghi disputed responsibility for those delays.
What changed during those two years? Did further analysis undermine the project’s economics, did new leadership change its priorities, or was it some combination? Pointing to the 2008 financial crisis does not fully explain the reversal, since PDC continued supporting the proposal afterward. But support for further planning was not confirmation that a workable deal existed.
Sadeghi’s success in Anaheim speaks well of his abilities, but does not establish that Centennial Mills was financially viable. “It worked there” is doing a lot of work in this account of what might have happened here. Without examining the unresolved costs and commitments, the article makes a stronger case for disappointment than for placing the blame squarely on PDC.
Honestly, I always thought the Galleria building was the best location for the James Beard Market—right in the heart of Portland, with easy access to mass transit. And don’t get me started on Portland’s mistake in eliminating the mounted police unit.
I've been in some of the Orange County projects; they're wonderful.
I'll make a prediction: The James Beard Market will open, do gangbusters business, drive a few nearby downtown restaurants out of business, get glowing reviews, then fade and go belly-up.
Why Portland tolerates a government entity going into direct competition with other businesses (low-cost apartments a prime example; next up grocery stores) is a quick education in Portland's polite corruption. The idea that a bunch of self-dealing and self-interested bureaucrats can run the local economy is ludicrous, as the numbers indicate.
Great recap of a series of bureaucratic blunders that obstructed and then killed a great project.
"Stupid is as stupid does." Forrest Gump, 1994
If the way Portland behaves now is any indicator, I'm not surprized that Portland wanted to court the shiniest of objects instead of the easiest, most logical, most relevant. What a waste and a shame.
So the question is whether City elected and appointed officials have learned anything constructive from this governance fiasco in terms of seeing the site developed in a responsible manner? And what is the culpability of former City officials in spending countless millions of dollars that we taxpayers dutifully paid from our earnings? Do they just walk off into the sunset free of any accountability?
Unfortunately we know the answerxs
Unfortunately, the City and its leadership do not see the fine line between Vision and Folly.
Free of accountability, but with golden parachutes paid for by you and me!
And how much citizen involvement has there been for the new development project that is going to be built on the site?
While there was some "citizen involvement" its tends to be more proforma than earnest engagement. And, the more citizen involvement does not assure a better outcome.
I agree. The current proposal to suspend design review is a good example of citizens who have no design/planning/or architectural training threatening to undo decades of Portland’s award winning urban design standards in the pursuit of assuming that housing inequity is a result of design review.
This is truly a sad story.
If Portland had Town Fathers with vision, they were absent.
Will the past be predicate for the here and now?
Is the present choice between preserving Keller and building PSU's theater ambitious or fool hardy?
In a sane world, Prosper Portland’s statement on Centennial Mills would necessitate its board writing “Government Speak” 100 times in the dirt of the demolished Centennial Mills.
With you there there count...slowly, Roger.
#1. The PORTLAND Development Commission changes its name to Prosper PORTLAND, and then claims the project is too Portland. Where's DOGE when you need em'.......
#2. We would do the same thing again today with a city council that demonizes anyone that is a developer. Satan is more welcome here.
#3. "they decided you can only have one thing"........unless that one thing is the Keller Auditorium.
Hate to be a Debbie Downer, but here I go again.
This piece seems to simplify the crucial period between 2009 and 2011. PDC’s September 2009 assessment supported further design work, but explicitly identified financing risks, uncertain rental income, and unknown environmental and structural costs. Relocating the mounted police unit and its stables remained another unresolved obstacle in 2010. PDC subsequently cited a lack of tenant and financing commitments, although Sadeghi disputed responsibility for those delays.
What changed during those two years? Did further analysis undermine the project’s economics, did new leadership change its priorities, or was it some combination? Pointing to the 2008 financial crisis does not fully explain the reversal, since PDC continued supporting the proposal afterward. But support for further planning was not confirmation that a workable deal existed.
Sadeghi’s success in Anaheim speaks well of his abilities, but does not establish that Centennial Mills was financially viable. “It worked there” is doing a lot of work in this account of what might have happened here. Without examining the unresolved costs and commitments, the article makes a stronger case for disappointment than for placing the blame squarely on PDC.
Honestly, I always thought the Galleria building was the best location for the James Beard Market—right in the heart of Portland, with easy access to mass transit. And don’t get me started on Portland’s mistake in eliminating the mounted police unit.
I've been in some of the Orange County projects; they're wonderful.
I'll make a prediction: The James Beard Market will open, do gangbusters business, drive a few nearby downtown restaurants out of business, get glowing reviews, then fade and go belly-up.
Why Portland tolerates a government entity going into direct competition with other businesses (low-cost apartments a prime example; next up grocery stores) is a quick education in Portland's polite corruption. The idea that a bunch of self-dealing and self-interested bureaucrats can run the local economy is ludicrous, as the numbers indicate.
Oh my goodness. Thank you for this excellent report.