Portland spent more than $12 million on Centennial Mills in six years as plans halted

Key Points:

• Centennial Mills in Portland, after sitting largely undeveloped for decades despite over $12 million in public investment, was severely damaged by a fire, raising concerns about hazardous materials and redevelopment delays.
• The city spent roughly six years and millions of dollars attempting redevelopment, but multiple proposed projects failed due to complex site conditions, regulatory requirements, and financial challenges.
• Advocates argue the prolonged vacancy resulted in lost taxable value and missed opportunities, urging the city to take a more active role in resolving developer feasibility issues and supporting redevelopment efforts.
• City officials declined interview requests but cited the complexity and cost of developing Centennial Mills, which was ultimately sold to a private developer in 2024, ending more than 20 years of public ownership.
• The fire has reignited debate about how Portland manages vacant properties, with calls for the city to identify barriers to redevelopment and improve support for viable projects to avoid similar situations in the future.