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One of the Portland-metro area’s natural gems, Willamette Falls, currently sits hidden behind a series of crumbling industrial buildings. Plans to change that got their biggest boost to date when 聽officials on Wednesday unveiled designs for a $60 million revitalization.

鈥淲e really recognized that we needed to approach this carefully,鈥� said聽Michelle Delk, partner and discipline director for landscape architecture at聽Snohetta.

Snohetta, the project’s lead designer, consulted with聽Mayer/Reed聽in creating the designs. The media got a first look during a tour of the site.

Citizens will be able to see renderings in person and project officials will answer questions during on Saturday, beginning at 1:30 and 3 p.m. at the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry,聽1945 S.E. Water Ave. in Portland. Admission to the event will be free.

鈥淯ltimately, we envision a future hotel and a corporate headquarters down there,鈥� Metro Councilor聽Carlotta Collette said. 鈥淚t’s a continuation of (Oregon City’s) downtown main street. There could be possible housing and condos.鈥�

The first phase, expected to cost approximately $20 million, will include construction of a walkway extending from downtown Oregon City to Willamette Falls. Also, an old boiler plant and several industrial buildings will be improved to allow public access.

鈥淭he primary goal is to provide a beautiful visual of the falls,鈥� Collette said.

Snohetta oversaw efforts to merge the views of all stakeholders into a coherent design.

鈥淚 think the first time we set foot on the site, we were fascinated by the complexity and the almost overwhelming nature of the site,鈥� Delk said. 鈥淭here is so much there today. There is a really layered landscape that embodies the rich history of the place.鈥�

One of the technical challenges of the site is that many of the structures sit underground. Everything from cement to train trestles have been buried and built upon over the years. The design is intended to turn those challenges into assets, Delk said.

鈥淲e immediately realized we needed to be patient,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e could not assume you could understand it at first glance.

鈥淚t’s really three-dimensional. It’s about what is underneath and what’s up above. You can go up and down and explore all kinds of spaces.鈥�

Accomplishing that without destruction of existing structures was a particular concern for area stakeholders.

鈥淲e want to peel back the exterior walls and keep the structures,鈥� Collette said. 鈥淲e want to have a see-through building (with an elevator) that you can ride up to the rooftop.鈥�

Designs also call for a visitor’s center and information kiosks throughout the site to provide historical tidbits.

In North America, Willamette Falls trails only Niagara Falls in volume of water that runs over its rocky drop. But awareness of the Pacific Northwest gem has been limited.

鈥淧eople in Oregon City didn’t know it was there,鈥� Collette said. 鈥淲e see this as a catalyst for our city.鈥�

Willamette Falls for more than a century provided an economic boost to the surrounding area. Native Americans fished the falls and traded with others in the area. Later, European settlers established the first mechanical industry in the region. The nation’s first long-distance electric transmission facility was created to power Portland’s early transit efforts.

鈥淚t was why Portland had streetcars,鈥� she said. 鈥淭hey had all this electricity and not many light switches yet.鈥�

More recently, the area was home to a host of industrial mills.

鈥淥regon City has struggled,鈥� Collette said. 鈥淥regon City used to be Mill City. It was a blue-collar city. Mills were the center of the culture for a very long time.鈥�

Since industrial facilities have closed, Willamette Falls has remained largely out of public view. But beginning with the river walk, city officials hope revitalization will include development of restaurants, hotels, housing and retail spaces.

鈥淭his is transformational,鈥� Oregon City Mayor聽Dan Holladay said. 鈥淵ou are taking something that is totally industrial and repurposing it for not only the river walk but seven new blocks of downtown Oregon City. Just the amount of tourism that this will bring will be huge for Oregon City.鈥�

The original idea for the new development took root in 2011. That is when the last of the site’s industrial mills, Blue Heron Paper Co., closed. The site’s owner,聽George Heidgerken, worked with project planners who coordinated efforts with Oregon City, Metro, Clackamas County and the state of Oregon.

The group worked with officials to develop the Framework Master Plan detailing a new vision for the area. They spent nearly three years discussing ideas and selling the concept to area politicians and the public.

鈥淲e really focused on the core values of the project,鈥� said聽Carol Mayer-Reed, principal with Mayer/Reed. 鈥淲e worked really well together. There were a lot of presentations. This was a true collaboration in the best sense for the word.鈥�

Collette added, 鈥淭his was one of the few projects where all of the partners have agreed. That made it relatively easy.鈥�

The core values include connecting people to Willamette Falls, teaching visitors about the falls’ history, creating a catalyst for private development nearby and enhancing the ecologically diverse stretch of the Willamette River.

鈥淲e studied projects that failed and succeeded,鈥� Collette said. 鈥淭he ones that succeeded really adhered to a set of values. Those four core values really helped keep everyone’s eye on the ball.鈥�

The project will now enter the permitting phase. Collette expects that to last a year or more because of environmental sensitivity. Once permits are granted, project designers will begin looking for contractors and other specialists. Construction will likely begin in 2018.

The goal is to have the river walk completed between 2020 and 2023. The complexity of the site makes an exact timeline difficult to nail down.

All of those buried items present potential obstacles.

鈥淚t’s tough to see where the dam begins and where the buildings begin,鈥� Collette said. 鈥淭here are two stories of concrete under (the) main street. There is just so much underground architecture. You could wander under there forever. We aren’t sure what the conditions are. Until we get into the underbelly we won’t know.鈥�

Project developers said they don’t want to squander the opportunity to build a world-class attraction for the sake of speed.

鈥淲e want people from Europe hearing about this and wanting to see it,鈥� Collette said.