By City Manager Ray Young
The national and world news dominate the media so much these days. With inflation, politics, the Ukraine/Russia war and COVID, it is tough keeping up with local news. But exciting things are happening in Troutdale, some things that we have waited almost 20 years for.
In 2006, you approved the creation of the Urban Renewal Area (URA), which was meant to help redevelop the 18 acres along the Sandy River behind the Outlet Malls, where the old sewage treatment plant was located. The property is now ready for sale and development, and the waterfront park and trail has been designed!
On the development side, we are circulating among developers the Request for Qualifications, and we have a new marketing website at TheConfluence.info. The new website provides in-depth information on the site, where we are now, and a look at the next steps. You can also watch a great new promotional video.
Sometime this fall we hope to be getting submissions from developers. Once we have those statements of interest, and their vision for the site, a citizen committee will review them and pass their recommendation onto the City Council for selection.
The website also provides a look at what our future waterfront park and trail will look like. Everything is ready to build the trail, except funding. Currently the City has submitted several grant applications that are encouraging, and will cover $2.7 million dollars of the anticipated $4,000,000 cost. The City will likely provide the remaining matching funds from the URA budget, and possibly City park funds. When it is done it will provide pedestrian and bike access from downtown, near the Gateway to the Gorge Visitor Center, along the Sandy River, all the way up to the path under the I-84 freeway. The path goes from there north all the way up to the Columbia River, and connects to the bike path along Marine Drive.
In addition to finally seeing the URA property transformed into a great destination for residents and visitors, downtown Troutdale is seeing an increase in new dining opportunities. The new food cart court, Troutdale Station, and the Troutdale Burrito Shop are now open. Away Days Brewery, who bought Old City Hall, are well into their remodel of the building, creating a destination brew pub. When you add these new dining options to all the other great restaurants downtown, and the URA development, things are looking very bright for Troutdale to remain a great place for residents and travelers to enjoy!