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It’s been more than a year since Beam Development was chosen by Prosper Portland to develop the ODOT blocks, a series of three vacant parcels along Southeast Water Avenue in the Central Eastside.

The developer and the economic development agency say the project is still moving forward despite some delays and economic headwinds.

鈥淚t’s going well, albeit it’s going slower than we would like,鈥� said Brad Malsin, principal of Beam Development. 鈥淭he process of getting through all of the details with Prosper has been slow going, but we are making progress.鈥�

Beam is operating under a memorandum of understanding with the agency while the two sides negotiate a development and disposition agreement. The experienced Central Eastside developer was chosen to lead the ODOT blocks project in May 2018.

On Wednesday, Prosper Portland’s board approved a resolution authorizing agency staff to seek state reimbursements for infrastructure that would be extended to the site. The Industrial Site Readiness reimbursements administered by Business Oregon would be used to compensate for conveying utilities, conducting environmental remediation and making street improvements for the industrial office site.

Prosper Portland staff estimated the agency could seek $13 million to $17 million in state reimbursement funds.

The ODOT blocks comprise three parcels formerly owned by the Oregon Department of Transportation that were purchased by Prosper Portland for $2.485 million. The properties total 2.19 acres and are located along Southeast Water Avenue between Madison and Taylor streets.

Plans call for commercial buildings on each block of about six stories with industrial and creative office and 鈥渕aker鈥� space for entrepreneurs. The nonprofit Innovation Quadrant is on board to take office space in the first building, Malsin said. The group’s space needs are to be determined, but will likely fall in the 10,000 square foot to 15,000 square foot range, he said.

鈥淥ur ideas center around a hub of ground-floor manufacturing and prototyping that would potentially be an adjunct to the IQ’s headquarters,鈥� Malsin said. 鈥淚t could be used collaboratively for the IQ as well as other makers and designers that could share that space.鈥�

The project team includes architecture firms Hacker Architects and Mackenzie, and Colas Construction.

鈥淲e’re all still together,鈥� Malsin said. 鈥淲e all still are excited about the project. We are looking to continue to identify the opportunities that are unique to the Central Eastside and unique to that site.鈥�

As plans for the ODOT blocks shuffle along, other Eastside office projects are poised to beat it to market, including Beam’s own District Office, a 72,000-square-foot project developed in partnership with Urban Development + Partners. 7 S.E. Stark from聽Harsch Investment Properties is nearing completion with approximately 70,000 square feet of office space, and 5 MLK from Gerding Edlen will bring about 120,000 square feet of office space to market early next year.

鈥淚 would definitely say that we are very aware of what is coming on the market in our district,鈥� Malsin said.

ODOT Blocks would be built in phases, and timing would depend on tenant interest and other market factors. Malsin suggested he would proceed cautiously.

鈥淚’m not feeling the love for (speculative) office at the moment,鈥� he said. 鈥淲ould I do one block? Maybe. Would I do three blocks? No.鈥�

Malsin added: 鈥淚t’s a moment in time to be as responsible and cautious as you can be.鈥�