The project was initiated in 1997 when the city' s development arm, the Portland Development Commission, sent out a request for proposals for the property, one of four adjacent parcels it owns in the Riverplace area. Of the three remaining parcels, one is intended for a small hotel and 150 condominiums under terms of a development agreement with RiverPlace Partners. Another parcel is targeted for corporate offices, and the final property is being marketed for a grocery and residential project to help meet demand for urban housing.

The new Marriott development is located across from the PG&E Gas Transmission Northwest Building and the South Waterfront Park project completed last year. The development team for the US Bank-financed extended-stay hotel includes architecture by Greg L. Allwine of Seattle; mechanical and electrical engineering by Abossein Engineering of Bellevue, WA; structural engineering by Cary Kopezynski & Co. of Bellevue, WA; and CM Co. general contractors of Boise, ID.

The hotel's management will be hired over the next few months, says Erickson. Inn Ventures has been developing and selling hotels in the region for 15 years. Projects include Residence Inns in Lloyd Center, Vancouver, Hillsboro and Seattle, as well as Courtyard by Marriott developments in Tigard and Hillsboro.