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Editor’s note: Portland is in the envious position of having many developers who care about the city’s future. This article mentions just a few of those individuals and firms.

Traditionally, the words “real estate developer” rarely bring to mind someone who cares about the community, neighbors and environment. Portland, however, has been blessed with numerous developers who possess these merits. Some of these people came to development as an outgrowth of other priorities, while others carried their personal interests into their chosen profession – even if it’s not always the most obvious choice for the bottom line.
Business is still business, and these developers are no exception. They chose their projects and leverage their investments in order to continue development activities. But the fundamental difference is that they are not so focused on profit that they lose sight of other values. While their approaches and project types vary, all of these developers strive to leave a lasting impression by making Portland a better place.

Ed McNamara,
Turtle Island Development
One year ago, Ed McNamara started his own company, Turtle Island Development, after working for Prendergast & Associates on multiple projects with affordable housing components. A former director for REACH Community Development, McNamara has a strong history in affordable housing.
His company name came from the title of a book of poetry which focused on the ideas of a sense of place and social justice. McNamara said the “Turtle Island” reminds him of what he wants to accomplish.
“I like the way Portland works as a city and I want to further the positive aspects about it,” said McNamara. “I also want to offer a sense of place within our buildings to make them feel more like home. Our property management staff makes real efforts to know the tenants, make them comfortable and retain them,” McNamara said.
He is also exploring concepts to help tenants increase their wealth and save more money so they can eventually become homeowners. McNamara is currently experimenting with the ideas of what a private developer can do, such as having community group offices on site to offer training, inspiration, or provide technical knowledge.
Focusing on the affordable rental housing close to downtown, Turtle Island is currently partnered with Williams & Dame Development on a large affordable housing project in the River District, and McNamara is working on an affordable condominium project in Chinatown.
Environmental aspects also have been a prime development consideration for McNamara.
“Because of the Urban Growth Boundary, development here is denser, so it’s even more important that the development is environmentally sensitive,” said McNamara. “I do it because I think it’s the right thing to do. I hope it has some positive impact on the tenants and community.”

Gerding/Edlen Development
Working in the inner-city area appeals to Gerding/Edlen Development Co. because it offers an opportunity to have tremendous impact on urban fabric and social environment. In particular, Mark Edlen likes Portland’s vibrant, active streets.
“We have an exciting central business district and lots of opportunity to enhance it,” said Edlen. “We want our projects to create places where people want to gather and socialize with each other.”
Over the years, Edlen said they’ve developed ideas about what works and what doesn’t. The firm wants to create exciting architecture and continually raise the bar for development. The company’s now participating in the development of the North Macadam district. Edlen believe public/private collaborations are a great asset to Portland.
“The city is a great partner,” said Edlen. “We could not have made North Macadam happen without them. We might not always agree, but the dialog alone makes things end up even better.”
Gerding/Edlen’s Senior Project Manager Dennis Wilde said environmental stewardship is a big part of the attitude about who they are as a company.
“The things we leave will live on much longer and we want to leave a mark that speaks of quality, a positive lasting contribution,” said Wilde.
Projects that are supportive of the people who live and work in them also help the environment, according to Wilde. He said that, ultimately, building responsibly is just good business.
“We will eventually run into a wall with our natural resources, and taking these steps now puts us ahead of the curve,” said Wilde. “It’s the smart thing to do from a business perspective.”

Roslyn Hill, NyanneCo.
Roslyn Hill got involved in development because she wanted to have a say in the future of Northeast Alberta Street and thought this was the best way to participate. While she develops commercial and mixed-use properties of her own, Hill also develops properties for other property owners through company NyanneCo. She calls herself an Urban Renaissance Designer because she also helps people plan gardens, layout commercial spaces, improve their curb appeal and get tenants.
Hill’s developments usually exceed code requirements for green space within her properties. Although it’s not always the best economic decision, Hill said green spaces are a quality of life decision.
“I can’t picture living without green spaces, so I usually have gardens, courtyards or lots of plantings,” said Hill. “Green spaces also make the properties welcoming.”
Hill creates soundly constructed buildings that engage the community with lots of color, and she stages open houses at project completion to invite the neighborhood inside.
“If the community doesn’t interact with the building, it won’t be a viable project,” said Hill.
“I want to feel good about what I’ve done and have the neighborhood and tenants feel good about it too,” Hill explained.

Sockeye Development
The people at Sockeye Development are driven by their beliefs in mixed-use and mixed-income developments, according to company Partner Carter MacNichol.
“We like the notion of everyone using the same front door. To have a successful market-rate property, it requires quality materials both inside and out and we want everyone to be able to experience that,” said MacNichol.
Although making high quality buildings affects the company’s financial return, MacNichol said that these buildings will outperform buildings with lower quality standards in the long run, both in terms of community impact and operations.
All of Sockeye Development’s project locations have something in common – they take “ripe” communities and work to get momentum started there. Museum Place is one of Sockeye’s public-private partnership developments that required a lot of tenacity and patience to make the multiple-block, mixed-used project financially feasible. MacNichol said working with great teams of people from architects to bankers, makes a big difference.
“We have a great love for the community and want to do the right thing, so we seek out people who share our values,” said MacNichol. “As developers, we’re building and changing things. I love showing my kids something that I’m proud of.”

David Hassin, Terrafirma
David Hassin of Terrafirma moved here from Los Angeles 11 years ago, looking for a better quality of life. With a 25-year background in the construction industry doing many high-end homes, Hassin had frequently worked for clients where money was no issue. Now, he concentrates his residential and light commercial developments around the Northeast Mississippi area. Hassin wanted to do what he calls thoughtful, conscious development, and he likes the complexity of the projects.
“Builders and developers have a huge responsibility to the earth because buildings have a tremendous impact on our natural resources and the health of the individuals inside them,” said Hassin.
His projects incorporate low-toxicity materials and energy-efficient measures and have been certified by Portland General Electric’s Earth Advantage program and received the G rating award from the city of Portland’s Office of Sustainability. Hassin works at a grass roots level, hiring local contractors that fabricate within the area and employ local talent to put money back into the area’s economy.
Hassin is also concerned about the community aesthetic of his work. He likes the architectural integrity of the older neighborhoods and drives around photographing historic details to incorporate them into his new construction projects. Hassin acknowledges the ethnic and financial diversity of the neighborhood and strives to make his developments reasonably priced so neighbors can make and sell their crafts within them.
“It’s a balancing act,” said Hassin, “but this is my home. I want to drive down the streets where my projects are and wave and smile at everyone, proud of the work and knowing it’s supporting them. This is my legacy.”

Ashforth Pacific
In 1995, Ashforth Pacific bought 20 acres from PacifiCorp in the Lloyd District area and entered the Portland development arena. Ashforth Pacific helped fund and nurture a number of initiatives that were just beginning to sprout such as the Lloyd Business Improvement District, the Lloyd District Transit Management Association and the District Prosecutor. The company also contributed to the district’s 20-year vision through Portland Development Commission.
Liberty Centre, the company’s first development here, is a thriving office building in the Lloyd District.
“We’re proud of the tenant companies that help make Liberty Centre strong,” said Hank Ashforth. “If a building is going to be in a neighborhood for 60 to 100 years, it should connect to the community and supply jobs. It should be an engine for the city and community, and give back in all the ways it can.”
One of the ways Ashforth Pacific strives to “give back” is through its aggressive sustainable practices. The company hired a sustainable coordinator to implement and oversee environmentally responsive measures for all of its properties. The company continually seeks ways to reduce consumption of paper, power and water and uses sustainable practices in its operations and maintenance.
A forth-coming development, formerly known as the Lloyd District Superblock, will have a sustainable design theme. Recently renamed Lloyd Crossing, as the company is hopeful that the streetcar will one day create an inner-city loop and cross through this property, the project will fit within a sustainable master plan Ashforth Pacific is creating for its core district.
“We want to incorporate measures that generate power, utilize innovative power sources and reuse waste water. For me, this is an important responsibility. I was brought up to leave things better off than I found them,” said Ashforth. “We care about the people – both employees and the community – we are plugged into this community and want to keep it thriving.”

Art DeMuro, Venerable Properties
According to Art DeMuro, president of Venerable Properties, Portland is a community of conscience and good development is a responsibility. The former high school history teacher worked in real estate development in Phoenix for nearly 10 years before doing his first rehabilitation project. Then a light bulb went on.
“The historic inventory is a defining asset of a city, in many cases it provides a city’s character,” said DeMuro. “You can find glass and steel skyscrapers in every major city but the historic structures provide urban warmth.”
DeMuro came to Portland in February of ‘91 because he recognized the market and incentives for renovation here. Venerable Properties now has 15 historic building renovations to its credit, most within 20 blocks of both sides of the river.
DeMuro’s appreciation of history helps him see historic buildings as rich mementos that carry the depth of time, with their own stories and pasts. In addition, historic renovation feels like important work to DeMuro, because older buildings need someone to care for them.
“Historic building renovation is also one of the finest ways to measure your contribution,” said DeMuro. “When you die, what did you leave? How is the world better off? I want to have a good answer to those questions.”