South Waterfront Redevelopment Project wins national Phoenix Award
The Portland Development Commission (PDC) has been informed that the South Waterfront Redevelopment Project, has been selected as the 2003, Region 10 Phoenix Award winner for outstanding brownfield redevelopment. Created in 1997, the Phoenix Awards honor individuals and groups who are working to solve the critical environmental challenge of transforming abandoned industrial areas into productive new uses. Newspaper articles refer to the awards as the “brownfields equivalent of Hollywood’s Oscar.”
PDC nominated the South Waterfront Redevelopment Project which encompasses the area known as RiverPlace, including South Waterfront Park, completed by PDC in 1999. A total of 73 acres of vacant and underutilized riverfront land were added to the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal Area in 1978, thereby assigning PDC the charge of redeveloping the area. Since that time, PDC has invested over $20 million in over 30 acres of public open space, recreation, and transportation infrastructure, and leveraged $95 million in private redevelopment in 16 acres of premier residential, office and retail uses.
Today the site includes 480 residential units, both ownership (190 units) and rental (290 units), 40,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, a 74-room hotel, an athletic club, 26,500 sq. ft. of retail and restaurant, an 83-slip marina, public breakwater, and 34 acres of public park, streets and open space.
“This award is further confirmation that the Commission is leading the way when it comes to reclaiming unproductive sites in the city,” said PDC Executive Director Don Mazziotti. “Portland is facing a shortage of large developable sites and this type of reclamation is going to be key to the city’s economic future,” he added.
Much of the site was originally a wetland. Twentieth century industrial uses on the site included the Lincoln Steam Plant and Portland Lumber Company. The site was filled over time with industrial debris and other materials, including a significant layer of sawdust generated from operations of the steam plant and lumber company. For a period of years the steam plant was powered by Bunker C oil contained in three large, underground storage tanks. As a result of years of industrial uses, site soils and groundwater were contaminated with industrial by-products. Damage to the riverbank from the 1996 flood exacerbated the risk of contaminants migrating into the river.
PDC and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ) entered into a milestone agreement in 1988 that identified the site as a pilot project in the State’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. PDC and ODEQ collaborated in determining cleanup measures both scientifically responsible and economically feasible so that redevelopment could occur. Remediation of site contaminants has been accomplished in concert with redevelopment projects built over a 15-year period, most recently the award-winning South Waterfront Park. The project is a model today for many other such projects through the state.
Redevelopment of the area provides dramatic benefits to Portland residents, most visibly by reclaiming the waterfront for public access and recreation. Economic benefits include an increased property tax base, and new, quality jobs. The RiverPlace area has become a popular stop for visitors to the city and is home to many seeking an urban residence in close proximity to Central City jobs. The project benefits the environment by improved public safety due to the soil capping and development of contaminated industrial land, by improved water quality due to river bank stabilization, and improved air quality due to removal of contaminated piles of fill and sawdust materials. Through the collaborative efforts of PDC and Oregon DEQ, the South Waterfront Redevelopment Area has become a model for effectively addressing the environmental problems of unproductive land through redevelopment to achieve a wide range of long-term public goals.
The Phoenix Awards are affiliated with the Marasco Newton Whittaker Foundation, an environmental and community service foundation, located in Arlington, Virginia.
To date, 52 projects for 17 states have received the prestigious honor. This year, one Phoenix Award winner was selected from each of the EPA’s 10 regions. This year, the Phoenix Award program introduced an international award for a project selected from countries around the world. Two additional winners were selected for “Community Impact Awards” that recognize exceptional projects in smaller communities. A Grand Prize Winner and 1st Runner Up Winner will be selected from among all the chosen winners and conference attendees will cast votes for a project that merits the Phoenix “People’s Choice Award.”
The 2003 Phoenix Awards will be presented during the Brownfields 2003 conference to be held in Portland, Oregon on October 27-29. At that time, a Grand Prize winner and first runner up winner will be selected from among all the chosen winners. Conference attendees will also cast votes for a project that merits the Phoenix “People’s Choice Award.”
Portland is honored to host the conference which attracts 3-5,000 delegates – many of whom will tour the city to see what is special about Portland and to see firs-hand the South Waterfront Redevelopment Project. PDC won a Phoenix Award in 2000 for The Yards at Union Station project – redevelopment of former rail yards into a successful housing project. Both projects will be featured in conference workshops.
For more information about the Phoenix Awards and to see a full list of 2003 winners go to www.phoenixawards.org. For 2003 conference information go to www.brownfields2003.org.
