The Burnside Blog
Portland's Bridge Market
As the built environment goes, there’s nothing quite like a bridge. While buildings fill gaps in skylines, a bridge can become a symbol for an entire city or region. What’s more, the life span of a bridge can be 100 years or more, so getting the design right is crucial.
If approved, Tri-met’s proposed six-mile Orange line will land Downtown Portland its first new crossing since the completion of the Fremont Bridge 1973, so it’s not a surprise that some local developers and architects are thinking big.
Take Ben Kaiser and Corey Martin. Their firm, Path Architecture, proposes that the crossing be more than the planned passage for buses, bikes, pedestrians and MAX trains to travel from shore to shore. Path’s Bridge Market would add 100,000 feet of office and retail space into the mix, creating a modern Portland version of the world’s most famous bridge market, Ponte Vecchio in Florence.
Of course, pulling this off will be challenging. For one, the proposed site near Riverplace is located outside of the city’s retail core. Second, adding office and retail space would certainly add cost to the bridge, whose funding will be sourced from a variety of streams, including federal transportation funds.
Still, the addition of 100,000 square feet (that’s 2.5 Portland city blocks) of commercial space could also create revenue and enliven the waterfront like never before.
By billb on Monday, June 09, 2008 at 12:57PM PDT
Nice idea , but there is little chance of businesses making it there. Think McCalls on the Water. Existng Commercial is struggling , and the last thing the private sector wants is government sponsored competition.
By Mike Thelin on Monday, June 09, 2008 at 02:26PM PDT
Great point billb, but I’d be interested in ways something like this could work without it necessarily being government-sponsored. McCalls failed because there was nothing else around it. Yes, people will travel to dine, but restaurants and other amenities do their best when clustered with other businesses. This bridge connects Riverplace to the SE Industrial area. Riverplace may not be the coolest part of town, but it’s improving with the likes of Lucier. Plus, it’s always packed on the weekends. I’ve come to like walking along the docks and Riverplace waterfront late at night as it’s the only section of the waterfront whose businesses enjoy a strong interaction with the water. The Strand towers have really made a big difference.
If a large municipal building or business campus (like Columbia Sportswear, Nike or Google) could anchor the East end of the bridge, there would be even more momentum.
By Kevin Hagan on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 04:13AM PDT
I think that this is a splendid idea. Portland has been a leader in the Europeanization of modern America. Things like bike boxes, affordable, accessible mass transit and a walkable downtown core. I think that this extreme symbol of europeanization would make Portland an even more attractive place to work, live, and raise a family.
By GLV on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 09:36AM PDT
2 things: 1) the bridge is in the wrong location. It will be sited about halfway between the Marquam and Ross Island bridges. This will be enshrined as Official Policy at the Metro Council meeting on July 24. 2) from a transit perspective, a drawbridge is pretty much DOA.
By Stephen on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 11:22AM PDT
So it isn’t a drawbridge, but thinking outside the box here is brilliant. We are a river city, why can’t we incorporate other activities or functions on a bridge? If it isn’t shopping what about park space, a museum or other cultural facility?
By Rob on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 02:25PM PDT
The Galata Köprüsü (bridge) spans a bay between two densely populated areas of Istanbul, both built up to the shore. http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=galata+bridge,+istanbul&ie=UTF8&cd=1&ll=41.019963,28.975925&spn=0.01266,0.025492&z=15 Sounds like Ponte Vecchio spans two dense and prosperous districts too.
The river deck of Galata primarily cafes and restaurants on the lower level, which is where pedestrians walk, below traffic level and pretty much at water level. It’s a cool spot in Istanbul summer. Popular for fishing too. There is a center drawspan. While SOWA may someday have residential and even daytime workers in critical mass, there are no such plans for the East side of the river.
By GLV on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 03:41PM PDT
If it isn’t a drawbridge, then it needs to have enough clearance for large boats (think Portland Spirit.) Unfortunately using this bridge for anything other than transportation use is, uh, pie in the sky.
By Mark on Tuesday, June 10, 2008 at 05:48PM PDT
I agree that it’s probably not feasible, but this type of conceptual work really makes us consider options for our waterfront. Portland really turns it back on the water, and something like this could remedy that problem. I personally do agree that this bridge is “pie in the sky,” so to speak, but I’d be interested to a retail or office project that connects to the river this well. The Willamette is really a fantastic river, and especially where this bridge is proposed. The view is wide and expansive with Mt. Hood, the Ross Island, and (sadly) the Marquam Bridge as the backdrops.
By Stephen on Monday, June 09, 2008 at 12:06PM PDT
I think that is pretty darn cool