Troutdale URA directs staff to negotiate exclusively with Ethos–Time Equities team for Confluence site

The Troutdale Urban Renewal Agency on June 17 authorized staff to enter exclusive negotiations with a development team led by Ethos and Time Equities to pursue redevelopment of the Confluence site behind the outlet mall.

The board’s direction followed a Town Center Advisory Board presentation of a single RFQ response and a public hearing in which residents urged protections for riverfront views and some speakers repeated a campaign call for a public park. Erica Clark, community development director, told the board the RFQ produced one proposal from a team that pairs national experience with local contractors and architects and offered a high-level concept that “extends the experience of Downtown Troutdale, connects to nature, and overall creates a meaningful community space.”

TCAB’s vice chair outlined the site’s planning history and recommended proceeding with the team while warning the board that “if access to the mall is not obtainable, the city should consider stepping back,” because losing that access would substantially change the project. TCAB and staff repeatedly described the submitted plan as conceptual and subject to change as more design and community engagement occur.

The developer team’s concept presented by staff included roughly a little over 300 multifamily units across five buildings, about 60 townhomes, approximately 35,000 square feet of retail and dining space and a roughly 130‑room hotel, all to be delivered in phases. Clark and other staff emphasized these are high‑level numbers that could change: “this is just a really high level concept plan. This could all change in the future,” Clark said.

Public commenters pressed for a park instead of private development. One commenter, Paul, read a campaign pamphlet excerpt urging that the 20‑acre riverfront be “transformed this land into a public park” and asked Councilor Davidson to oppose commercial or residential build‑out. Staff responded that while parkland is desirable, the city has already invested about $12,000,000 in the pathway and would need an estimated $20–30 million more to convert and properly staff a large public park absent outside funding — a financial constraint staff said would fall on the general fund.

After a closed public hearing, a motion to select the Ethos/Time Equities/NATO/Hacker/Remit team for an exclusive negotiating agreement was moved and seconded. Chair and directors voted to direct staff to draft the exclusive negotiating agreement (ENA) and bring a written ENA back to the board for approval. As staff explained, the vote authorizes negotiation only; any final development disposition agreement would require subsequent board approval.

What’s next: staff will draft the ENA and return to the URA board for review and formal approval of any agreement or disposition and development agreement. The board and TCAB stressed that access negotiations (including possible access through the outlet mall or a pedestrian connection) and community engagement are central to whether the concept can be delivered as proposed.