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.
The South Waterfront is part of the Portland Development Commission's North Macadam Urban Renewal District. The first phase of the South Waterfront is the $1.9 billion "River Blocks" development. Construction began in early 2004. The full build-out of the district envisions many residential (primarily condominiums) and medical research towers ranging in height from 6 stories to 35+ stories.
As of August 2010, nine towers have been completed in the district: the 16-story OHSU Center for Health & Healing, the twin condominium Meriwether Towers at 21 and 24 stories, the 31-story John Ross Tower condominium, the 22-story Atwater Place condominium tower, the 31-story apartments The Ardea, the 22-story Riva on the Park, the 30-story Mirabella, and the Matisse. The 30-story Mirabella Tower is the district's first senior living community.
A linear park running along the west bank of the Willamette River is proposed. The district currently has its own park between the Riva on the Park and OHSU. The Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge, which opened in July 2012, connects the South Waterfront District with Lair Hill over I-5.
Under construction for opening in 2015 is the Caruthers Bridge, which will carry only pedestrians, bicyclists and public transit vehicles.
The district currently has two restaurants (Le Hana & Bambuza), a small market (Urbana Market), an Umpqua Bank and a handful of retail and service businesses. As of mid-January 2012, Little Big Burger has leased a space in The Ardea for a future restaurant.
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