Project name: The Spot

Location: Madras

Completion: November 2024

Size: 3,150 square feet

Owner/Developer: J and C 5^th Street LLC

Architect: Open Concept Architecture

Engineers: Eclipse Engineering, H.A. McCoy Engineering & Surveying, Solera MEP Design Services

General Contractor: O’Brien & Company

Submitting Company: O’Brien & Company

Other Key Participants: City of Madras, Madras Redevelopment Commission

Subcontractors: Bend Heating and Sheet Metal, Benham Falls Asphalt, Central Oregon Concrete, Central Oregon Garage Door, Elite Construction Contracting, Elite Electric, G.W. Paulson Co. dba Baptista Design, Gale Contractor Services, Johnson Resources, Joshua Hittlet Drywall, JR Fire, KYA Painting, Oleachea’s Fine Finish Cabinetry, Pearl Plumbing, Rain Water Diversions dba BR Continuous Guttering, Rock Solid Roofing, Solid Fab Works, Storjohann Inc. dba Bend Fencing

A first-of-its-kind community hub is breathing new life into downtown Madras, offering residents and travelers alike a place to connect over food, drinks and entertainment.

The Spot features a taphouse with a second-story covered balcony, food carts and a heated outdoor patio. It represents owner Andre Jackson’s vision for economic revitalization in this Central Oregon community. The project, built by O’Brien & Company, was intentionally developed to stimulate local economic growth while providing a flexible, year-round gathering place.

The building’s innovative design blends indoor and outdoor spaces with overhead garage-style doors with glass inserts. When fully opened, these doors connect the building to the patio, creating a bright atmosphere filled with natural light. The venue’s warm wood and clean modern details create a lively space designed for year-round enjoyment regardless of weather conditions.

Despite challenges from the site’s condensed nature and proximity to the highway, the design-build approach allowed for real-time adjustments to construction plans. Advanced building materials, including ZIP System Insulated R-sheathing, were incorporated to enhance efficiency and durability. The project also prioritized high-performance audio and internet infrastructure to support live entertainment.

The Madras Redevelopment Commission provided crucial financial backing for the project. The City of Madras and its building department guided construction to ensure compliance with zoning and safety codes.

Jackson, who relocated from Portland to invest in Madras’ future, has already purchased an adjacent lot to expand the community’s event space.

The Spot hosts live music, trivia nights and student performances, fostering cultural engagement and providing a platform for local artists. Middle and high school students are actively invited to perform, promoting youth engagement in the arts. Regular community events including bingo, karaoke and sports viewing parties transform The Spot into an interactive gathering space rather than just a dining destination.

By drawing foot traffic to local businesses and serving as an economic hub in an area largely influenced by highway traffic, The Spot strengthens downtown Madras’ ecosystem while encouraging walkability.

“The Spot is all about connection, both within the Madras community, and as a regional hub,” Jeremy Cogdill, Open Concept Architecture managing principal, said in the project submission form. “It’s a ‘living room’ at an important intersection between the east and west sides of the mountains, that aims to bring people together through food, music, and conversations around a fire pit.”

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PROJECT: St. Helens Riverwalk, phase 1

LOCATION: St. Helens

SIZE: one half mile

START DATES: March 2021 (design), April 2024 (construction)

COMPLETION DATE: June 2025 (phase 1)

COST: $3 million (construction)

OWNER/DEVELOPER: city of St. Helens

PROJECT MANAGER/PRIME CONSULTANT: Mayer/Reed

GENERAL CONTRACTOR: Advanced Excavating Specialists

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT: Mayer/Reed

ENGINEERS: Otak, PAE, NV5

OTHER ASSOCIATES/CONSULTANTS: Archaeological Investigations Northwest, Architectural Cost Consultants, Naughton Communications, Pacific Habitat Services

PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The grand opening of a linear park on Thursday marked a major milestone in the city of St. Helens’ mission to transform 24 acres of former industrial land into a vibrant mixed-use River District.

A half-mile stretch of former industrial land along the Columbia River has become a public amenity. The design emphasizes sustainability, habitat restoration and integration with the city’s broader trail and open space networks. Mayer/Reed designed the entire corridor up to 30 percent before shifting its focus to final design and implementation of phase 1, which was built by Advanced Excavating Specialists.

Key features of phase 1 include improvements to Columbia View Park, approximately 300 feet of riverwalk, interpretive signage, stepped seawalls, scenic overlooks, improved riparian and shallow water habitat for fish and wildlife, and links to Columbia County’s waterfront trail system and the new Columbia View Circle.

Funding is needed to complete phase 2, which will include construction of an amphitheater stage and playground in Columbia View Park. Central and southern riverwalk sections will feature beach access, a plaza, an accessible gangway to a launch and dock for light watercraft, a picnic area, and a large, cantilevered overlook.

The riverwalk is a key component of St. Helens’ broader Waterfront Redevelopment Project, which includes the simultaneous design and construction of the Streets and Utilities Extension Project, led by Otak. This project will provide multimodal connectivity between downtown, the Columbia River and the future River District.

“Building Blocks” spotlights noteworthy projects either under construction or approaching the start of construction. To submit a project for consideration, please visit: djcoregon.com/building-blocks.

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