About Portland's South Waterfront

What's an Eco District?

EcoDistricts were first thought of in 2009 by The Portland Sustainability Institute (PoSI). In an initiative which would assist cities by removing some implementation barriers on creating Portland neighborhood with sustainable living.

South Waterfront put strategies in place that required a comprehensive approach that includes active community participation, assessment, new forms of capital, and public policy support to make an EcoDistrict happen.

"To test the EcoDistricts approach, PoSI partnered with the City of Portland to launch five Portland pilot districts as sustainability innovation zones where the latest in community organizing, business practices, technology, and supportive public policy comes together to drive ambitious sustainability outcomes."

Over a three-year period, district stakeholders have agreed to work with their Portland neighbors and South Waterfront communities to set rigorous goals, develop a road-map and implement projects. In return, PoSI and its public partners are providing technical and financial resources to support their work.

What Has South Waterfront Done?

South Waterfront was identified as an EcoDistrict pilot early in EcoDistrict Development. South Waterfrontis pioneering many sustainable projects in the areas of infrastructure, buildings, and behavior projects including:

• The Portland Aerial Tram
• Extension of MAX Light Rail and Portland Streetcar
• The creation of a storm water and green streets master plan
• Restoration of a one-mile stretch of the Willamette River as a linear park that is certified Salmon Safe
• And all buildings required to achieve a LEED “Silver” rating.

The Portland EcoSystem Summit will be held this year Oct 26 - 28, 2011

Presented by GE and The City of Portland, the Ecosystem Summitis dedicated to:

• Deepen the City of Portland's understanding of Portland Eco Districts and compare and contrast to similar district-scale sustainability projects around the globe
• Connect with local Portland companies, Portland professionals and local Portland policymakers who are driving urban innovation
• Learn about district-scale sustainability best practices in finance, governance and policy
• Explore topics like district energy and water utilities, net-zero buildings, smart grid, networked transportation, urban ecosystem services, zero waste and human behavior

Map of South Waterfront

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The South Waterfront is a high-rise district under construction on former brownfield industrial land in the South Portland neighborhood south of downtown Portland, Oregon, U.S. It is one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the United States. It is connected to downtown Portland by an extension of the Portland Streetcar, and to the Oregon Health and Sciences University campus atop Marquam Hill by the Portland Aerial Tram, as well as roads to Interstate 5 and Oregon Route 43. -- Wikipedia

It's official, Portland’s Condo market has crashed.. Well that’s my opinion. Condos have been sitting empty all over Portland. Even as I look out my office window I see unfinished condos sitting vacant. They’re everywhere! This is a huge dicicator of distress (not that we didn't know that already). The Atwater Place condos in the South Waterfront will be auctioned off with reserve prices less than half of what they were valued at in 2007 when the building was constructed. The development company built 212 condo units 23 stories high. This project is on the auction block. The date is set for Sept. 20th starting at 4pm at the Marriott Portland Downtown Waterfront.

A Company called “Accelerated Marketing Partners” will be doing the auction. I'm estimating around 800 unsold condo units in newly constructed buildings downtown. Yes.. you heard it correctly. 800. Talk about massive inventory. We’re drowning in condos. This auction is a good thing. It will put things in perspective for the people of Portland. We are in a condo crisis for sure. Supply & Demand. It's that simple. Too much supply meand cheaper prices for you. According to an announcement for the auction, one bedroom condo units boasting 1,318 square feet are for auction with minimum bids starting at only $169,000.

So let’s compare this to the units that were sold in November and December of 2007. Back then, Atwater Place sold 10 condo units with a range of square footage between 1,200 to 1,300. These condo units sold for prices of $472,000 to $640,161. That's outrageous by today's standards! Huge discounts are being offered. Two bedroom condo units will be starting at $269,000. The riverfront residences will start at $699,000.

The building has been open since January 2008. Units are available to view from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Registration is fast and easy. Email me for more details at SoldByAaron@gmail.com or you can use the contact form located on the right. You can even call me if you like. My number is 503-332-9777.

Take care and Good luck friends.

Aaron Majors

My favorite work is Home Staging in Portland Oregon's Pearl District & South Waterfront. I love these condos and lofts for their floor to ceiling windows and open floor plans. If you saw my post about "Little Boxes on the Hillside", then you already know that one of the challenges to selling these lofts and condos is making them stand out from their competition.

When you are ready to list your loft or condo in the Pearl District or South Waterfront, look at the other listings already in your building.

• Are they vacant or occupied?
• Are they re-sales or still new?
• How do they compare in amenities? Floor plan? Upgrades to finishes? Their view?

This is your competition. All of the buyers wanting to buy a loft or condo in the Pearl District or South Waterfront know that there are many to choose from and they are comparing your listing with all the others available. Did you know that over 84% of people looking for homes will look at properties on the internet before they ever call their broker to go look? They have a list of properties they want to see ready before they ever get in their car --- or on the MAX --- to go look. If you are in a high-rise condo, there are no "FOR SALE" signs outside your place attracting interest, so what is going to get them to come look in the first place? It's your listing photos. It is essential to professionally stage your condo or loft in the Pearl District and South Waterfront and have professional quality photos taken in order to stand out from all the other condos on the market in your area. In these two sets of before & after photos, taken at The Vaux on NW Savier and at The Elizabeth on NW 9th, which condo would you take the time to go see if you were shopping?

Speak with your broker and find out who is in your "target market".

• Are they younger and single?
• First time buyers?
• Do they work out of their homes?
• Have children?
• Older and more established?
• Is this likely to be a second vacation home?

Hire a home stager who offers the right look and feel for the Pearl District or South Waterfront. A stager who understands the tastes and needs of your target market will do a better job of tailoring the staging to appeal to potential buyers. They will determine if the condo or loft needs a fresh contemporary look for younger buyers with an office set up for live/work, or a more transitional and upscale look for buyers who are more established. In the photos below, the first before and after are of a studio condo in the Portland South Park Blocks staged to appeal to young, first time buyers. The second before and after photos are of a professionally staged, Pearl District penthouse loft appealing to high-end buyers and it fits the upscale, contemporary architecture of the property. The third set of before & after photos is of a high-end studio loft in Portland's South Waterfront John Ross Condominiums with home staging geared toward buyers of vacation or second homes.

Finally, hire a professional stager who is familiar with the special rules and regulations for staging work in condos. Parking and elevator use restrictions require knowledge and careful planning.

Pangaea Interior Design specializes in home staging for Portland's Pearl District, Downtown, Cultural District, South Waterfront and North Waterfront Condos, Lofts and Penthouses. For expert help with vacant and occupied properties, call today for your free, no-obligation home staging proposal. 503.816.4394 OR, visit us online at Pangaea Interior Design. We look forward to helping you!