The renewal agency bought the site in 1999. Construction could begin in the summer. The PDC will assist in financing the commercial portion of the development; the townhouses will be privately financed.

Developers planning Vanport Square, a retail and housing complex slated for the west side of MLK between Northeast Alberta and Emerson streets, received a six-month extension while they continue to try and land an anchor grocery tenant. The development team includes Ray Leary and Mark Edlen. Edlen is a partner in Gerding/Edlen Development Co., which redeveloped the five-block former Blitz-Weinhard Brewery on the northwest edge of Downtown Portland.

Also receiving an extension are the would-be renovators of the 29,500-sf Weimer Building at 3934 NE MLK. The developers say they are ready to move forward with the project as soon as 35% of the building is preleased. The plan is to lease the ground-floor commercial space to retailers and lease the upper floors to office users, including a new third level over the north side of the building.