PDC Announces Three Developer Finalists for Centennial Mills

Today the Portland Development Commission announced the three firms selected as finalists for the Centennial Mills project: The Cordish Company of Baltimore, The Lab LLC of Costa Mesa, California and Nitze-Stagen of Seattle. Each will be paid $40,000 to respond to PDC's official request for proposal (RFP), which will require a detailed plan and presentation for the 4.5-acre waterfront site.

Before these finalists begin in earnest, what words of advice and hope can we give them?

I wish I knew more about why these three firms were selected. Hopefully it's not overly based on their financial capability, as may have been the case with the Burnside Bridgehead project - at least come selection time. But I don't see PDC as the problem or even necessarily the focus here. Rather, I think now is the time the developers need to hear from Portland about what we want and don't want at Centennial Mill (not actually pictured here - I didn't have any good CM shots so I chose one from Twin Peaks).

Since they're all out-of-towners, it seems these firms need to go the extra mile to reach out to the community and get their input. How about these developers coming to town and running some kind of charrette or town meeting?

Also, if these firms have the resources to handle such a potentially big, important project, that likely means they're pretty big. I hope that doesn't mean they'll be making the choice large developers often seem to make: tame architecture by huge service firms. That's a stereotype, of course, but still tethered to reality, I'd say. Whether they come from Portland or out of town, I hope these three developers have the courage to seek out talented people to work with, and not just the people they've worked with before, or the people who have the longest track record with similar projects. Amaze us!

It should go without saying that historic preservation and sustainability should be keywords here. But I don't think that's enough. I hope developers aren't afraid to contrast the historic mill buildings with some contemporary architecture. It's important to fit in, but that doesn't mean neo-historic new buildings alongside the old ones.

And then there's the question of exactly what recipe of retail, housing, and/or other services belong there. It has to be mixed-use, but are the developers gonna bring in chains or local stores? What'll they do or not do about the police department's horse paddock next door - does any of these three developers have the gumption to go the extra mile and suggest a plan for annexing the horsey barn space down the road?

I don't mean to just re-hash the conversation we've already had a few months ago about the Centennial Mills site, but it really strikes me that this is one of our last real chances to tell both the client, PDC, and especially the developer-finalists, what we want to see in Centennial Mill. Complaining after the fact is a much more difficult way to affect change than preventing things in the first place. We have to speak up now, or be forced to hold our peace once the blueprints are confirmed.

Comments

[billb]

Well said Brian , we need to make serious Design a requirement of Public / Private projects in the City and Region. No one thinks of the Bay Bridge , but the Golden Gate is a show-stopper for the ages. One has only to look at the new Sauvies Island Bridge to see what happens when low bids drive the solution....

[Mary Vogel]

Here's what Cordish has to say about itself: "Widely recognized as the leading international developer of large-scale urban revitalization projects and entertainment districts, The Cordish Company has been awarded more Urban Land Institute Awards for Excellence than any other developer in the world."

Personally, I have no problem with "neo-historic new buildings alongside the old ones." In fact, I greatly prefer that to the starkness of much modern architecture.

[zilfondel]

^ I'd rather see something interesting and fun, rather than the same old rehashed boring crap.

The site already has a bunch of old buildlings, and 90% of the Pearl District is 'faux-historic.' Puh-lease - are Portlanders this stodgy???

[zilfondel]

Everyone's complaining about the lack of schools in the area, maybe it needs a kindergarten full of screaming children. And clowns. Lots of clowns. Painted bright red & yellow.

Might just be enough to scare away all the yuppies and hipsters.

[Carlo]

Just curious, Zilfondel: By what definition do you claim that "90% of the Pearl District is 'faux-historic'." I walk around that neighborhood every day, and unless I'm missing something, virtually everything there is either actually a historic building refitted for new use (Ecotrust, Marshall Wells, Chown Pella, the Avenue Lofts, the Crane Lofts, Weiden+Kennedy, the Weinhard Brewery, etc.) or new and unabashedly modernist (all of the new Hoyt condo buildings, the Elizabeth, the Henry, the Louisa, the Casey, etc.) I can actually think of only one building in the entire neighborhood -- the Gregory -- that might accurately be called "faux historic." You sure you're talking about the same Pearl, the one in Portland?

[kolas]

carlo, all the ankrom projects in the pearl are all 'faux historic, theme park disney project..art deco?? hip roof modern? faux industrial, .. you name and architecture style..

[Tacee Webb]

If anyone of the decision makers at PDC and beyond has ever visited The Lab in Costa Mesa, or The Camp, across the street, then they would know 100% sure of the clear choice for this project. This is not my favorite area of the country, generally. To visit this project is to witness how art, architecture and smart/pioneering green architecture (no faux anything here!) can truly build energy and masterfully create community, where before there was so little. Mall after ugly mall where now there are gallery shows and trees and giant scuba tanks and open theatres and bands playing.
The LAB developer is THEE best in the country at what he does, hands down. It would be an honor for our city for him to make his next visionary move here.