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Beaverton, OR
Transit-Oriented Development Adds Urban Amenities to Portland
Suburb
The scenic Tualatin River Valley in Washington County, Oregon has
a long history of supporting human activity, beginning with the
Native Americans that inhabited a village on the Beaverton and Fanno
Creeks that they called "Place of the Beaver." When white settlers
occupied the area in the 1800s, the name was changed to "Beaver
Dam" and later to Beaverton. The area quickly became a center for
logging and agricultural products. Completion of the railroad in
1868 boosted the economic success of Beaverton, allowing for export
of agricultural and timber products to nearby Portland. In 1893,
the City was officially incorporated with a population of 400. During
the 1920's, Beaverton was known as the "City of Homes," however
Beaverton remained a small town until after World War II, when suburban
development crept out from Portland. The majority of development
occurred after 1960 and is characterized by predominantly suburban,
auto-dominated land use patterns.
 Today,
Beaverton is still a place of natural beauty and scenery. Located
seven miles west of Portland, it is Oregon's fifth largest city
with nearly 80,000 residents. In the past two decades, the economy
has diversified to include high technology (the City marks the heart
of the "Silicon Forest"), retail and distribution. City government
is committed to providing and maintaining connections within Beaverton
and to downtown Portland.
In the 1970's, the former waste water treatment plant was relocated,
freeing up eight acres of city-owned land immediately adjacent to
downtown. Beaverton successfully sought the location of a light
rail station on the property when the expansion of the Westside
light rail line or MAX was planned in the early 1990s. The City
solicited proposals from developers, one of which was selected in
1995 and dubbed "The Round" — named after the transit-focused
circular design of the project. Mobility options were expanded in
1998, when the Westside line started providing service between Beaverton
and downtown Portland. However construction on The Round was stalled
in 1999 when the original developer was unable to secure financing
for the project. No Portland-area banks were willing to lend to
the development team, and after spending their own money, they were
forced into bankruptcy court by the City.
 After
years of sitting fallow, the City purchased back the property in
May 2001 and entered into a development agreement with the new developer,
Dorn-Platz Properties. Proof of financing for the $100 million project
was a condition of the sale. Construction of the eight-acre mixed-use
transit-oriented development has started up again.
The Round includes 260 apartments, 375,000 sq.ft. of commercial
space, and 100,000 sq.ft. Of retail space. Apartments are housed
in two six-story buildings with retail on the ground floor, nearly
160,000 sq.ft. Of office space, and a four- to seven-story parking
garage with a health club on the top floor. Other elements include
a garden — for Beaverton's sister cities in Europe and Asia
— a public plaza which will be given back to the City, a fountain,
amphitheatre, and park. The entire project will be centered around
the light-rail transit stop.
The first phase of construction will complete renovation of a five-story
office building for office and retail use, and a condominium/retail
building. The next phase will add the health club and more housing.
Successive phases will complete the office, retail and residential
components of the project, as well as the public amenities.
The Round will create a new heart to downtown Beaverton and set
the stage for revitalization in a pedestrian-friendly, transit-oriented
fashion. From the railroad of 1868, which first brought prosperity
to Beaverton, the city has come full-circle to a new focus on rail.
For more information, contact the Beaverton Economic Development
Department at (503) 526-2456.
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