September 5 , 2007

Centennial Mills Developer Search Narrows to Three

Three firms have been recommended and approved to proceed to the Request for Proposals (RFP) phase for the redevelopment of the Centennial Mills site.  The firms were recommended by an interview panel and subsequently approved by the Portland Development Commission’s (PDC) Executive Director. The three firms are:

• The Lab, LLC of Costa Mesa, California
• Nitze-Stagen & Company of Seattle, Washington
• The Cordish Company of Baltimore, Maryland

In April, the Portland Development Commission (PDC) issued a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) nationwide to development teams who were interested in and capable of meeting City goals for redevelopment of the 4.5 acre waterfront site.  A total of nine firms responded.  Six teams were short-listed and invited for interviews.  The interview panel reviewed the RFQs and unanimously selected the three development teams that will move forward by preparing responses to the Request for Proposals (RFP). The firms were judged on their qualifications and past experience.  Each firm moving to the RFP phase will receive a stipend of $40,000 to augment their development concepts, design and finance details as part of their response. 

“This is a very important step in the reclamation of this section of Portland’s waterfront,” said PDC Executive Director Bruce Warner.  “It will be very exciting to see what these firms propose for this historic and picturesque property,” Warner added.

It is anticipated that the RFPs will be issued on Friday, September 7, 2007.  The developers will be required to attend a public open house in October 2007.  Proposals will be due back to PDC on Friday, January 18, 2008.  Following receipt of proposals, PDC will hold another public open house and convene an evaluation committee to review the proposals and provide a recommendation for a preferred development team.  This recommendation  could go before PDC’s Executive Director and the PDC Board by early spring 2008. 

The Centennial Mills Framework Plan outlines Portland’s interest and aspirations for redevelopment of the site. The framework plan is the result of a six month public process and was approved by the Portland City Council in December 2006. The plan does not prescribe how the property should be redeveloped, rather it outlines various development opportunities and lays out five key principles for redevelopment: Provide open space, capture history, define a community focal point, strengthen connections, and embrace sustainability. The full Centennial Mills Framework Plan is available at www.centennialmills.org and at www.pdc.us.

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