The public hasn't had access to Willamette Falls for more than 100 years because of the private developments on both sides of the river.
New plans for a former paper mill site south of Portland would allow public access to one of the largest waterfalls in the country for the first time in 100 years.
Willamette Falls is the second largest waterfall by volume in the country behind Niagara Falls. But for more than 100 years, the public hasn't had access to the falls because it's flanked by privately-owned paper mills.
When the Blue Heron mill in Oregon City went bankrupt in 2011, it created an opportunity to restore public access to the waterfall.
Tony Konkol, community development director for Oregon City, said the city and the regional government agency Metro got $5 million from the state Legislature to work with the bankruptcy trustee and the public on redevelopment plans for the 23-acre property. The city unveiled a set of options for redeveloping the site Thursday night.
"When you look at this site right now, it's very dense, industrial, with multiple eras of buildings," Konkol said. "There's over 500,000 square feet of buildings and structures. It's hard to envision something else. So what we're trying to do is show people what the opportunities can be on the site."
The options range from a site with minimal public access to the falls and more development – of residential housing or commercial space – to a site with more public access and a little bit of development.
"I think that is really going to be the discussion," said Konkol. "What do folks want to see? What's appropriate?"
A private developer from Irvine, Calif., has expressed interest in buying the mill out of bankruptcy and being a partner in the redevelopment plans.
But the company, Eclipse Development Group, hasn't made a deal with the trustee handling the property in bankruptcy court yet. Friday is the deadline for the two parties to reach an agreement.
