North Macadam

Public and private investment has generated remarkable growth here, with new jobs, enhanced public amenities and innovative urban living. North Mac extends the central city neighborhood to South Waterfront and is delivering on strategic goals for the city and Prosper Portland.

Contact: Lisa Abuaf, email or 503-823-7380

Urban Renewal Area (URA) Fast Facts

Created: June 1999
Total Acres: 447.1
Last date to issue long-term debt: June 2025

Twenty years ago, the North Macadam Urban Renewal Area (URA) was a largely vacant, under-performing industrial part of town hampered by a lack of infrastructure and a need for environmental clean-up. It was physically close to downtown, but disconnected and overlooked. But this began to change in 1999, when City Council established the URA to realize its potential as an employment center, a vibrant neighborhood and an extension of the Central City District.

North Macadam is well positioned to meet the demand for high density, mixed use, environmentally friendly development and urban living here in Portland. Completed projects in the area include new housing, employment, walking paths, parks, trails, streetcar and the aerial tram.

Oregon Health & Science University plays a critical role in the development of the URA, as the city’s largest employer and as a center of research and innovation that will lead to new jobs and economic growth. The completion of the Center for Health & Healing and the Collaborative Life Sciences Center, along with the continued expansion of the OHSU campus to the South Waterfront are important milestones for OHSU’s growth within the Central City.

URA Objectives

Pursue significant commercial and housing development in a former industrial area by redeveloping the district into a mixed-use Central City neighborhood, with a spectacular greenway and parks system
Improve transportation infrastructure and accessibility
Enhanced public amenities and uses, including greenway, riverfront improvements and access
Economic development, job creation – new research cluster integrated with OHSU

Project Areas

The urban renewal area has several subareas that focus planning and redevelopment into functional, accessible communities. Previous work on the Central District has encompassed street and utility infrastructure construction, the completion of more than 2000 housing units, including affordable housing at Gray’s Landing, OHSU’s Center for Health & Healing and the Collaborative Life Sciences Center, construction of the Portland Tram, extension of the Portland Streetcar and alignment of Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail, and completion of the greenway and neighborhood park.