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Roughly one month ago, the city of Beaverton approved a master plan for the 49-acre Creekside District. Now the city is ready to tackle the future of what many people consider the most developable piece of property in the district.

The city on Friday issued a request for sealed proposals of qualifications from developers interested in pitching their ideas for the Westgate site, a four-acre piece of land east of Cedar Hills Boulevard and west of the mixed-use development known as The Round.

The Westgate site, which is bordered on its south side by the MAX light-rail line, at one time was the home of Westgate Theater. The city, using a $2 million buy-in from Metro as a key partner, purchased the property in 2005. The site is part of an urban renewal district that, in addition to the Creekside District, includes the city’s Old Town area and a commercial area near Southwest Murray Boulevard.

Requirements for proposed uses for the Westgate site are being limited to a few goals the city and local residents have identified as desirable for the Creekside district.

鈥淲e want it to be vibrant,鈥� said Tyler Ryerson, the city’s project leader. 鈥淲e want it to be dense 鈥� walkable.鈥�

In addition, the city is making available to developers a hotel market study as well as a plan for a possible arts and culture center.

鈥淲e’re providing a lot of information, but we want the market to dictate (what is built there),鈥� Ryerson said.

The city will hold a non-mandatory pre-proposal meeting on April 7, at 9 a.m., in council chambers in The Beaverton Building, 12725 Southwest Millikan Way.

Solicitation packets are available at or by calling the city’s Bid Line at 503-526-2228. The deadline for submitting sealed proposals is May 8 at 2 p.m.

During the following week, a review committee 鈥� including a representative from Metro tasked with evaluating proposals to see if they meet that agency’s standards for transit-oriented development 鈥� will consider all submitted proposals. An interview period may be required, Ryerson said.

Once the committee settles on what it considers the best qualified developer, it will pass its recommendation to the Beaverton City Council. The council should be ready to authorize an exclusive negotiations agreement by June, Ryerson said.

Although the selection process is expected to move relatively quickly, project construction likely won’t start until 2016 or 2017 at the earliest, Ryerson said.