North Macadam Redesign In the Works

PORTLAND-Planning and design commissions are meeting this week en route to yet another plan for the North Macadam District, the vast tract of former industrial riverfront south of downtown. They will be discussing possible changes to proposed zoning, greenbelt and design restrictions.

Oral testimony ended last week. Written testimony still may be submitted. A draft report is due out in February. A steering committee spent two years working on a framework plan for brining jobs, housing and shopping to the area – the last large undeveloped tract of land in the Central City. The city and the property owners are still hoping to work out a development deal with Oregon Health Sciences University, which is looking for expansion room but also considering land it owns east of the city in Washington County.