Downtown Waterfront

Ankeny/Burnside Implementation
Waterfront Park, Ankeny Plaza & Streetscape Improvement Project

Project in Brief

Using the Ankeny/Burnside Development Framework and the Waterfront Park Master Plan as a point of departure, this project included collaborative work with citizens, business and property owners, and City staff, to design improvements for the area around the Ankeny Pump Station in Waterfront Park, for First Avenue, and an area under the Burnside Bridge. The project, which is funded primarily by the Downtown Waterfront Urban Renewal District, had an original budget of $8.5 million.  $8.5 million was not enough to fully fund the project as envisioned by stakeholders and community members, and on May 28, 2008 the PDC Commission authorized additional funding which, along with $700,000 raised by Ann Naito Campbell and the Portland Parks Foundation, brought the total budget to just under $13 million, including $10.8 million for construction. It is jointly managed by Portland Parks & Recreation (PP&R) and PDC, with PP&R taking the lead during design, and PDC taking the lead during construction. Construction began on June 30 2008, with an anticipated completion date of late February 2009.

Waterfront Park
The Waterfront Park portion of the project will include a multi-purpose podium under a 7,787 SF canopy structure made of steel, glass and wood, with a water feature to activate the space when not in use for events.  This water feature will be turned off when events, such as the Portland Saturday Market, use the space.  When markets and other events are set up on the podium and esplanade, a new alternative esplanade route to the east of the podium, existing esplanade and oak trees, and west of the pump station will facilitate movement through the area.  The pump station will receive a new ornamental metal fence, engaging this historic building into the park.  Just south of the podium, at SW Naito crossing, will be a circular plaza with broad stone stadium seating steps rimming the south edge which will be engraved with the story of the many cultures that contributed to Portland’s Old Town.  The plaza will be the basin for the Bill Naito Legacy Fountain, a large interactive water feature.  To the east, the plaza will be rimmed in stone stairs rising to a new cantilevered deck over the Willamette River, which will provide opportunities for more intimate views of the river.  The project will raise the sea wall at its low point to assure the same level of flood protection as the rest of the sea wall provides.  Mounted out in the river on an existing piling will be an environmental art piece by public artist, Ned Kahn, consisting of a stainless steel mirror reflecting the river, affording views of the water from further west on Ankeny Street.

MAX/Retail
The MAX/Retail portion of the project will include a new 2,164 SF retail illuminated glass storefront on the west side of First Ave. intended to enliven the MAX station.  Tenants are being sought for this space.  TriMet is contributing some funding to help with other improvements, including under-bridge lighting and painting, as well as improvements to the stairways leading from First Ave up to the Burnside Street, all intended to improve the sense of public safety and overall appearance.

Ankeny Plaza Restrooms
Design work is currently underway to provide a public restroom facility on the southern edge of Ankeny Plaza.  This facility will serve the multitude of users in the area once constructed.  A Technical Advisory Group (TAG) consisting of members of Portland Parks and Recreation, the Portland Business Alliance, PHLUSH (Public Hygiene Lets Us Stay Human), PDC, and others have been evaluating conceptual designs to arrive at one design which will meet the range of needs in the neighborhood.  The next phase of design is beginning July 2008, with the intention of completing permitting in late 2008 and construction in 2009. 

Background

The Ankeny/Burnside Development Framework (Framework) strategies recommend public realm improvements in the Skidmore/Old Town National Historic District to be concentrated along Ankeny Street, First Avenue, in Ankeny Plaza and Waterfront Park, and under the Burnside Bridge. Improved pedestrian crossings, lighting, and other features will increase safety and sense of security in the core of this district. The Framework recommends improvements to Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza to support Portland Saturday Market and other programmable outdoor events, and to bring people and energy to the District, especially concentrated at the northern end of Waterfront Park. The Framework also suggested modifications under the Burnside bridge, including the MAX Station, to increase security and safety and to make better use of the space.

Supporting these recommendations is the Waterfront Park Master Plan (2003) completed by Portland Parks & Recreation. A phase one implementation priority of the Waterfront Park Master Plan is for the area around the Ankeny Pump Station to become a new activity center in the park. It will include, among other features, a significant interactive water feature and an area that can accommodate open-air markets and other programmable uses. It will serve as a major gateway to the northern portion of the park.

Unlike neighboring districts, this district has not redeveloped to its full potential. Likewise, the northern end of Waterfront Park is underutilized. Ankeny Street, with its narrow right-of-way and colliding street grids, conveys an old world pedestrian scale and is poised to blossom into a vibrant, activated and charming shared pedestrian and vehicular corridor connecting the Willamette River, Waterfront Park, and Ankeny Plaza to the heart of downtown and the transit mall.

Portland Saturday Market is on the Move

The Portland Saturday Market (PSM) is a vital cultural and economic institution for the region and the District. Founded in 1974, it is the largest outdoor arts and crafts market that has been in continuous operation in the United States. Redevelopment opportunities in the District require PSM to relocate within a very short timeframe, and this sense of urgency is driving the entire project schedule.
Through the Saturday Market Permanent Home Study (2006), a site within Waterfront Park combined with Ankeny Plaza was selected for PSM’s new home. Improvements required to accommodate PSM create the first opportunity to implement a high priority component of the Waterfront Park Master Plan (2003), the area around the Ankeny Pump Station, to create a northern activity hub and gateway into Waterfront Park.

The Design Process

This project has taken the Ankeny/Burnside Development Framework and the Waterfront Park Master Plan as a point of departure, and worked collaboratively with citizens, business and property owners and City staff, to make the vision a reality.

The design builds upon planning to date and incorporates the Park and rights-of-way. The goal is to create vibrant public spaces that respect the characters of both the historic neighborhood and the park, are multi-purpose, sustainable and functional in nature, and create safe pedestrian and visual corridors from the waterfront to downtown.

A 13-member Project Advisory Committee helped guide the project’s design. All of their meetings were open to the public. Open House events and on-site “Stop & Talks” were scheduled throughout the design phase, beginning in April and continuing through July 2007.  Meeting notes and presentations are available below, under Project Advisory Committee.

Private Development Momentum

Several development projects are underway or in early planning stages within this historic district. Significant momentum has been created through the range of planning exercises that have been completed in this area.

Mercy Corps is developing the Skidmore Fountain Building B and adjacent parking lots for their world headquarters, and started construction in April of 2008. The University of Oregon is moving their Portland campus to the White Stag Building, and began occupying the building in Spring of 2008.

Complementing these institutional uses, the Bill Naito Company has announced their intention to complete a master planned development for a number of their properties within the Skidmore/Old Town Historic District. The culmination of these development efforts has brought the promise of new energy and vitality to this cherished historic district.

Publications

      Presentations

      Project Advisory Committee (PAC)

       Related Information

Team Leader

We encourage you to send us your comments on any aspect of this project.


Downtown Waterfront (Ankeny/Burnside) Calendar of Events

Time Event and Location
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
3 -5 PM Burnside Bridgehead Citizen Advisory Committee

Burnside Bridgehead Citizen Advisory Committee monthly meeting Transit Stop: On bus mall
Contact: Trang Lam - 503.823.3419


Portland Development Commission
222 NW 5th Avenue
Portland, OR 97209

Commission Conference Room

 
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