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The Zidell family, in the wake of its decision to close Zidell Marine Corp.‘s shipbuilding business, is unveiling plans to develop 5 million square feet of mixed-use space in the South Waterfront.

The massive redevelopment of the Zidells’ South Waterfront properties would include 15 to 20 buildings at full build-out. The Zidells plan to construct 1.5 million square feet of offices, 250,000 square feet of retail, grocery and dining space, 2,600 residential units, 200 hotel rooms, 5,500 parking stalls and several parks and other public spaces.

The existing shipbuilding facility is slated to be refurbished and reused as retail space.

And, yes, there are plans for a grocery store, a longtime demand of South Waterfront residents who currently must leave the neighborhood to buy groceries.

鈥淲e really want to try to make this village, this area, a really wonderful place to be,鈥� said Tom Henneberry, chief operating officer of Zidell Yards.

Construction of the initial projects is slated to begin in late 2017.

Plans for Zidell Yards are emerging after years of intermediate steps. A briefing for the Portland Design Commission was canceled聽Thursday聽because of inclement weather.

The Zidells have held the South Waterfront properties for more than 80 years. The family’s holdings span 33 acres on the west bank of the Willamette River bisected by the Ross Island Bridge.

Much like at the Portland Development Commission‘s 14-acre U.S. Postal Service site in Northwest Portland, or Gramor Development’s 33-acre The Waterfront development in Vancouver, Washington, Zidell Yards represents an opportunity for a large, master-planned, urban community within the Portland-metro area. Planners and developers can start almost from scratch while building into existing infrastructure.

The exact mix of retail, office and residential uses could change in response to market demand, Henneberry said. The development is expected to have a 15-to-20-year phased build-out.

Some of the buildings will reach the 250-foot height limit allowed under zoning code. Eight buildings are envisioned as residential. The barge facility is planned as a 90,000-square-foot retail anchor.

Henneberry hopes to see a retail anchor tenant open in fall 2020. A residential tower would follow in spring 2021, and a grocery store later in 2021.

鈥淭he grocery store is a big deal,鈥� he said.

After a grocery store is in place, office users may follow, Henneberry said. ZRZ Realty has already been in talks with hotel and grocery operators.

In September, Zidell Marine Corp. President Jay Zidell said the family’s decades-old shipbuilding business would deliver its last barge in 2017, launching around聽June 1. About 60 employees will be laid off. The move to get out of the shipbuilding business came as barges have grown too large for Zidell Marine to build at their facility.

鈥淗e felt that the timing was right,鈥� Henneberry said of Jay Zidell’s decision to close the shipbuilding business.

The decision has opened up possibilities for Zidell Yards. Previous plans had to work around the marine facilities.

鈥淭hey really didn’t have much opportunity to plan here,鈥� Henneberry said of earlier efforts.

The Zidell family has no plans to sell any of its South Waterfront property.
鈥淎t this point, we want to own everything that we’re developing,鈥� Henneberry said. 鈥淲e’re not looking to sell land to other developers.鈥�

The Zidells’ land includes substantial river frontage that was used to moor barges. Much of that land will be converted into a publicly accessible greenway.

The new developments would join The Emery, a ZRZ Realty residential-over-retail tower with 118 apartments that was completed in 2013. The retail spaces are occupied by Ecru, a stationery store, and a pet supply retailer that is due to open soon.

For residents, the prospect of further growth in the South Waterfront promises to add amenities and enhance vehicle access, particularly from the congested South Portal.

ZRZ is working closely with the Portland Bureau of Transportation and other agencies to improve transportation access for vehicles.

PBOT’s South Portal plan would extend Bond Avenue and turn it into a one-way southbound street. Moody Avenue would become a one-way northbound street.

鈥淲e’re trying to make the center of gravity of this whole neighborhood Bond Street,鈥� Henneberry said.

Extending Bond Avenue will be a boon to residents, said Len Michon, chairman of the South Portland Neighborhood Association.

鈥淭hat will certainly be a big benefit with regard to getting in and out of South Waterfront,鈥� Michon said.

Plans for parks and open spaces are welcome, he said.

鈥淲e really want to have this be a very open community down here that anybody in the city would be happy to be in.鈥�

Zidell Yards is due to take shape as major players transform the South Waterfront. Oregon Health & Science University’s $295 million Collaborative Life Sciences Building opened a couple of years ago, and construction is under way on the eight-story Knight Cancer Institute and expansions to the Center for Health & Healing.

Portland developer Cairn Pacific is working with property owner Prometheus Real Estate Group on plans for four buildings in the South Waterfront. Initial plans call for two seven-story residential-over-retail buildings facing the river on Block 41. Two larger buildings farther west of the river could follow.

鈥淥ver the next five or 10 years, I think we’re going to see a tremendous amount of development down here,鈥� Michon said.

TriMet’s Tilikum Crossing has opened the South Waterfront to access by light rail and bicycle. Meanwhile, the Portland Aerial Tram has become a hub of commuting activity, with 10,000 riders a day.

鈥淭he public transportation is incredible,鈥� Henneberry said.

Henneberry was hired in May to serve as master planner for Zidell Yards after months of consulting. He previously led development at The Yards in Washington, D.C., a 42-acre waterfront project.

The vision for Zidell Yards also encompasses wide swathes of public space. Gantry Plaza would be built at the base of the aerial tram where the Gantry crane is currently located. To the north, Meadow Park would connect the development to the street grid. Beneath Ross Island Bridge, smaller public spaces with uses such as half-court basketball or a dog park are planned.

The South Waterfront Greenway would stretch along the river. A dock is envisioned to extend into the Willamette, allowing access for recreationists.

鈥淥bviously, we want to get people activating the river,鈥� Henneberry said.