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After the city of Portland let expire a memorandum of understanding for Harsch Investment Properties to develop the abandoned Centennial Mills site, the firm’s president, Jordan Schnitzer, complained that the city didn’t hold enough public meetings. So now Schnitzer has decided to hold one of his own.

Schnitzer will be at Pure Space, at 1315 N.W. Overton St., on Jan. 21 to speak about the 鈥渞edevelopment opportunities and potential for Centennial Mills.鈥� Pearl District Neighborhood Association President Patricia Gardner and historian Chet Orloff also will speak at the public event, which is slated to start at 6 p.m.

The Portland Development Commission bought the five-acre Centennial Mills site in 2000. After several failed redevelopment attempts, the city last year began demolition of five warehouses and three grain elevators.

The PDC backed out of the MOU with Schnitzer in November. He said he was 鈥減rofoundly disappointed in (the) PDC and the mayor.鈥�

鈥淭he need for political vision and leadership is imperative as Portland struggles to maintain and restore our treasured historical sites,鈥� Schnitzer said in a statement.

Susanne Orton, spokeswoman for Harsch Investment Properties, said that at the event Schnitzer will show illustrations and talk about the different development concepts for Centennial Mills. The presentation will be followed by a public discussion, she said.

鈥淲e are hoping to have a lot of public participation and attendance,鈥� she said.