Lloyd Center Master Plan Approved; Management Group Responds

Portland’s Lloyd Center is undergoing a major transformation, with a new redevelopment plan recently approved by the Portland Design Commission. The decision was made during a unanimous vote on Thursday, marking an important step in the mall’s future.

According to a spokesperson for Portland Permitting and Development, the Design Committee’s review focused solely on the master plan for the site’s future development. This included evaluating key factors such as infrastructure capacity, transportation systems, and their ability to support proposed levels of development.

However, the demolition of the existing mall was not part of the master plan reviewed by the commission. As a result, the Design Commission did not approve the demolition at this stage.

Despite this, both the commission and the managing director of Urban Renaissance Group have emphasized that demolition will be necessary to redevelop the site. Tom Kilbane, a representative from Urban Renaissance Group, explained that the approval was for a framework outlining the infrastructure, street network, open spaces, and plazas that will form the basis of a vibrant new neighborhood.

Urban Renaissance Group and KKR Real Estate Finance Trust are the owners of the Lloyd Center, with URG managing it as well. For the few businesses still operating within the mall, Kilbane mentioned that there is a plan in place to assist them in finding new locations.

“We’ve been working with a local nonprofit, No Vacancy, and also with Prosper Portland’s Office of Small Business to help existing tenants find new homes,” he said.

Regarding the timeline for the project, Kilbane noted that it’s still too early to determine specific details. The exact timeline for the redevelopment and the identity of future tenants remain unclear.

“What the Design Commission approved yesterday was essentially a framework for the neighborhood that’s to come. There were no specific uses that were either proposed or approved, no specific buildings. All of that will come later,” he said.

Kilbane also mentioned that while specific retailers have not yet been identified, there has been significant interest in the project.

One of the main points of contention in the redevelopment is the year-round ice rink, which the Save Lloyd Ice Coalition is trying to preserve. Kellan Embry, a skater with the coalition, highlighted the importance of the ice rink, noting that it is one of the few successful aspects of the mall.

“Our fight is far from over. I think the next step for us is really sitting down with URG and figuring out what is the problem, and so we can start working for the solution together,” she said.

In response to concerns about the ice rink, Kilbane acknowledged the possibility of seasonal skating opportunities in the new plan. However, he also admitted that this does not fully address the need for a year-round ice rink.

“There’s an opportunity for seasonal skating within our plan, and we are excited about that and look forward to providing seasonal skating opportunities,” he said. “We think that in order to solve that problem, our elected officials and local governments need to work together to find a solution for that permanent year-round ice.”

Kilbane added that if a group wanted to build an ice rink within the new Lloyd Center development, the company would be open to that idea. However, it is not something they would undertake themselves.

City staff will now issue the Final Findings and Decision of the Design Commission, which will be mailed out no later than March 20. Once the findings are mailed, it will initiate a 14-day appeal period. If the decision is appealed, an appeal hearing will be held before the City Council. If not, the development team can proceed with additional land use reviews and building permits.

As of now, the application for the demolition permit has not yet been received by the city.