The Burnside Blog
Burnside Bridgehead RIP
Bojack reports today that the Burnside Bridgehead is not happening anytime soon. Yesterday, the PDC Board of Commissioners voted to let the memorandum of understanding between Opus and PDC expire. The decision wasn’t a surprise. Rumors have been circulating for more than a year, and the long-vacant construction site was tell-tale of the Bridgehead’s status. The project was supposed to break ground in late 2005 but other than a building demolition that year, nothing has happened on the site in the three years since PDC made its decision to award Opus the project. What a waste of time.
I guess that means the Central Eastside isn’t ripe for development, right?
Several blocks east Works Partnership Architecture’s B-Side 6, an office and retail building, is rising. Last summer, Kevin Cavanaugh’s Rocket building was completed. The recently refurbished Grand Central Bowling Alley is only a few blocks away, and several smaller scale properties in the neighborhood will be spruced up this spring and summer. Most ironically, developer Brad Malsin’s and Works Partnership Architecture’s Olympic Mills project added eight stories of office space to the neighborhood just last year. Malsin, if you remember, was the local developer the PDC passed over to spearhead the Bridgehead project, even though his proposal was overwhelmingly favored by the public. What’s more, Malsin had numerous letters of intent for his proposed retail and office spaces.
If the PDC’s function is to revitalize neighborhoods by supporting development that wouldn’t pencil out otherwise, what does it say about the focus of the agency when it can’t make its own projects work? Shouldn’t PDC be helping developers and architects who are already working the neighborhood? The Central Eastside presents unique opportunities, and within its industrial corridors are some of the most talented designers and innovative developers in Portland. It seems to me the PDC should be funding these folks.
By liar on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 01:07PM PST
I agree regarding the PDC, and i’m no fan of Opus, but everyone talks so fondly about Maslin, and what would have happened if he was selected… he doesn’t exactly have the greatest track record for keeping projects on schedule, or for paying his bills. ‘F’ that guy.
By Scooter on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 01:08PM PST
I agree with Liar. Malsin is a media darling because the media have never had to bill him for anything…or maybe they have.
By Monforts on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 09:18AM PST
Shocking, a developer shirks his bills!! It’s too bad to hear this since he’s had the guts to put together some pretty interesting projects. Who else would be able to put together a more intriguing team for the Bridgehead?
By intheknow on Friday, February 29, 2008 at 09:48AM PST
I’m still convinced that the idea of giving one developer control of such a large chunk of the central city was a mistake to start with. The redeeming factor in Beam’s (Malsin) approach was that they understand the problems that come with a single-handed mindset.
Since the OPUS deal fell through – and perhaps the economic era of large sweeping land development may have passed – I think that PDC should go ahead and prep the land and then divide it up into smaller chunks. Take this opportunity to correct a failed idea.
If they made smaller lots available; the smaller, more progressive, more agile developers – the ones actually making things happen on the eastside – would have the opportunity to create what everyone really got excited about in Beam’s proposal in the first place.
By Intheknow on Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 03:27PM PST
I should also say that even though beam’s intentions were good, there is no way he could have accomplished that task. It was way too large and PDC did a huge favor by not allowing him the rope to hang himself.
By Steve on Sunday, March 02, 2008 at 09:32PM PST
I’m with Intheknow. The PDC should leverage some renewal funds to pay for street improvements, and let the Eastside developers take charge. The Opus project would have ruined the area in my opinion. I really like the B-Side-6 Building that’s going up next to Ron Toms. I’d like to see more of that.
By NEMind on Sunday, March 09, 2008 at 05:44PM PDT
On the subject of dividing up the land into smaller chunks (Intheknow)...while I like the Rocket & BSide6 I think the Burnside Bridgehead project site really needs a large scale “Big Move” development. Being on the N-S dividing line of Portland, a major artery, and the first thing people see upon arriving on the East side the “Bridgehead” concept is inherently about marking a node in a significant way. Really small scale development slivers of 6-8 stories, like the aforementioned, isn’t enough for that concept.
By intheknow on Monday, March 10, 2008 at 10:14AM PDT
Both the Rocket and Bside6 are on 3800sf lots. If the PDC divided the project into 1/4 Block pieces (and someone could get 2 together), it would encourage larger buildings without the mega-plex feel. It is possible to achieve a “bridgehead / gateway” development without having to give the project over (several blocks at a time) to one developer.
By SCG on Thursday, February 28, 2008 at 10:50AM PST
OPUS couldn’t get an anchor tenant? Sounds familiar:
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/01/01102008_New-developer-takes-over-project.cfm