South Waterfront

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The South Waterfront district from Marquam Hill

Portland Aerial Tram car descends towards the rising South Waterfront district in Portland, Oregon.

This rendering shows The Mirabella, a 30-story tower scheduled to be one of the first buildings completed in the SoWa District.

This rendering shows the proposed skyline for the South Waterfront District as of June, 2006.

The South Waterfront (or SoWa) is a new high-rise district under construction on former brownfield industrial land in the South Portland neighborhood south of downtown Portland, Oregon. It is one of the largest urban redevelopment projects in the United States. SoWa is connected to downtown Portland by an extension of the Portland Streetcar, and to the Oregon Health and Sciences University campus atop Marquam Hill by the Portland Aerial Tram.

The South Waterfront is part of the Portland Development Commission's North Macadam Urban Renewal District. The first phase of the South Waterfront is the $1.9 billion "River Blocks" development. Construction began in early 2004. The full build-out of the district envisions many residential (primarily condominiums) and medical research towers ranging in height from 6 stories to 35+ stories.

As of February 2009, five towers have been completed in the district: the 16-story OHSU Center for Health & Healing, the condominium twin Meriwether Towers at 21 and 24 stories, the 31-story condominium John Ross Tower, and the 22-story Atwater Place condominium tower. The sixth tower in the district, the 31-story apartments The Ardea has topped out, and work is finishing on the 5 story side car units, expected to be completed in March.

In addition, three buildings are currently under construction. One of these buildings, the 30-story Mirabella Tower, will be the district's first senior living community with completion expected in early 2010. Other buildings under construction include Riva on the Park, a 22-story apartment building scheduled to begin move-ins in Spring 2009, and the five floor Matisse buildings, rentals that are expected to be finished in early 2010. The Matisse buildings will comprise the first income-restricted complex in the district. A linear park running along the west bank of the Willamette River has been proposed. The district currently has its own park between the Riva on the Park and OHSU; there are plans to rejuvenate the appearance of the park. Also proposed is the Gibbs Street Bridge, which would connect the South Waterfront District with Lair Hill over I-5.

The district currently has 2 restaurants (Le Hana & Bambuza), a small market (Urbana Market), an Umpqua Bank and a handful of business selling goods and services.