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The Portland Design Commission on Thursday got its first look at the 29.3-acre redevelopment plan for transforming the Lloyd Center into a high-density, mixed-use neighborhood.

The project team鈥檚 aim is to reimagine the property that currently holds an inward-facing, auto-centric mall so that it becomes a regional destination. This transformation will involve incorporating housing, retail shops, office spaces and restaurants 鈥� all interconnected via plazas, parks and open spaces.

鈥淲e see this as an amazing opportunity to completely remake a large part of the Lloyd District,鈥� said Tom Kilbane, managing director at Urban Renaissance Group (URG). 鈥淚t鈥檚 not often that you get a chance to reimagine 30 acres of prime real estate in a big city.鈥�

The project team includes owners聽URG聽of Seattle and聽KKR Real Estate Finance Trust聽(KREF) of New York; master planner聽ZGF; landscape architect and urban designer聽Field Operations聽of New York; civil engineer聽DOWL聽and structural engineer聽KPFF.

URG and KREF have owned the Lloyd Center since December 2021. The mall, which opened in the summer of 1960 as a 1.2 million-square-foot shopping center with approximately 100 stores, over the years has gone through multiple renovations, including enclosure of formerly open-air space via a glass ceiling and the addition of a third level.

However, like many other enclosed malls in the U.S., the Lloyd Center saw major tenants begin to depart. Then, during the COVID-19 pandemic, in January 2021, the mall鈥檚 last remaining department store, Macy’s, closed. The mall was in foreclosure when URG and KREF took over.

The vision for the site, Kilbane said, is to create an energized, welcoming, and inclusive neighborhood that fosters community, connection, and business.

The preferred concept for the master plan presented on Thursday includes approximately 15 development sites ranging from 160 feet to 445 feet. Their density spans a floor-to-area ratio of 4:1 to 9:1 with allowed bonuses. Building heights can reach up to 225 feet with bonuses.

In previous master plan proposal hearings commissioners have expressed concerns about large-scale development parcels. They all pointed out that big sites could be developed in various ways to avoid creating a 400-foot wall.

鈥淚 think about the effort this master plan is making of taking what is not a large track,鈥� Commissioner Sam Rodriguez said, 鈥�(but) a ginormous piece of property that鈥檚 continuous 鈥� I think it鈥檚 important to give them the flexibility to do something.鈥�

Two 鈥渟ignature鈥� open spaces are planned for the property. One is likely to have grass or other soft landscaping, and the other like a plaza with an ice rink 鈥� an iconic feature of the Lloyd Center since its opening. Also, plans call for a promenade along 12th Avenue as a connection to Holladay Park and several passageways into the neighborhood.

鈥淭his is an incredibly exciting project and it鈥檚 great to start to get a peek under the canvas and see what鈥檚 under there,鈥� Commission Chairman Brian McCarter said.

The Lloyd Center master plan is scheduled to receive a second design advice meeting on Dec. 21. Development team members and commissioners will discuss the site鈥檚 characteristics and building massing.

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