A long-vacant building near the Oregon Convention Center is set to be transformed into a new food-focused destination featuring a 14,000-square-foot food hall, bar and event space, along with an outdoor patio designed to host up to 10 food carts.
The redevelopment is planned for a Prosper Portland-owned property at 910 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., located within the Lloyd-Holladay Tax Increment Finance District. The project is intended to activate a highly visible site near the convention center while expanding dining and gathering options in Northeast Portland.
Prosper Portland’s Board of Commissioners approved three key resolutions related to the project earlier this week. The actions include a minor amendment to the Lloyd-Holladay Renewal Plan to designate the site as a priority project area, updates to the property plan, and approval of an intergovernmental agreement with Metro to pursue a $3 million loan toward the $7.5 million redevelopment.
Prosper Portland acquired the property in 2005 with the original intent of developing a hotel to serve the convention center. However, after Metro selected a different site for what became the Hyatt Regency at the Oregon Convention Center, the agency began reassessing how the property could better serve the surrounding district.
“We heard significant input and interest from the community about repositioning the asset, particularly as a potential to take advantage of the opportunity to bring more local food options into Lloyd,” said Amy Nagy, a Prosper Portland development manager.
The current concept envisions a high-traffic food and beverage venue designed to complement convention center activity and neighborhood use. Project priorities include a flexible, four-season gathering space, a dynamic interior layout and a professional, welcoming environment for both visitors and vendors.
Portland-based Parti Architecture LLC has completed preliminary schematic designs and plans to submit materials to the city for design review in March. Renderings show a redeveloped building paired with an expanded outdoor patio area that would house food carts along the eastern edge of the site.
Under the proposed business model, ChefStable — a Portland-based restaurant consulting and management firm — will serve as the master lessee and third-party operator. Individual food cart owners would lease space through ChefStable, allowing for a rotating mix of local vendors.
The redevelopment budget includes $4 million from Prosper Portland and $500,000 from ChefStable, with the remaining $3 million loan contingent on approval by the Metro Council. The proposed loan carries a 4% interest rate and a 10-year repayment period, subject to final approval by both agencies.
Construction work will include interior renovations, seismic upgrades, electrical improvements, partial demolition and full build-out of the outdoor food cart patio, according to Will Thier, Prosper Portland’s real estate manager.
Prosper Portland expects to issue a request for proposals for a construction manager/general contractor in May or June. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and last nine to 10 months, positioning the food hall and patio to open in late summer 2027, according to agency spokesperson Shawn Uhlman.
Originally reported by Hilary Dorsey in DJC Oregon.
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