Urban Renewal in Tualatin

Urban Renewal came to the City of Tualatin in January of 1975 with the adoption of the Central Urban Renewal Plan and Report and the creation of the Tualatin Development Commission which governs the urban renewal areas within the City. The Central Urban Renewal Plan was created to alleviate blighted conditions in the City's core which was dominated by The Hervin Company, a pet food manufacturer. As a manufacturing industry, Hervin constituted a major non-conforming use in a commercial district. Problems which the Hervin plant posed to downtown development included strong odors, noise, and traffic conflicts associated with the railroad spur which served the plant.

The original Central Urban Renewal area consisted of 310.8 acres and has grown to today's area of 327.48. This area includes the Tualatin Commons Development which was a joint public/private partnership. Following unsuccessful attempts during the late 1980's to develop a Village Square, the Development Commission went back to the community for input. Community members sent a strong message to continue seeking a pedestrian oriented downtown with a strong civic focus. The project was renamed from Village Square to Tualatin Commons and a new concept plan was created which incorporated a 3+ acre lake surrounded by a mix of restaurants office buildings, housing, open space, and possible public buildings.

Central Urban Renewal District

The Central Urban Renewal District encompasses 327.48 acres in the downtown area of Tualatin.

Tualatin Commons is at the heart of the District. This mixed-use development includes a man-made lake, office buildings, hotel, restaurants, townhomes, apartments and a unique business/townhome complex called "Tualatin Mews".

To gain a greater visibility for the Tualatin Commons and downtown area, the Tualatin Development Commission has developed the Tualatin Commons Enhancement Strategy Work Plan that outlines in-depth plans to further insure the vitality of this area. Enhancements include:

• Two pedestrian crossings on SW Boones Ferry Road (constructed in Summer 2001).
• Construction of a Community Sign at the northwest corner of SW Martinazzi Avenue and SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road (2001).
• Streetscape enhancements including art and parking lot signage downtown area (2002)
• Enhanced safety features to the Nyberg Street Turnaround on the east side of the lake (2003).
• Expansion of the Central Urban Renewal District boundary to provide partial funding for the expansion of the bridgedeck of I-5 (2003).
• expansion of White Parking Lot C (2001 and 2004).
• Streetscape enhancements and utility undergrounding along SW Boones Ferry Road between SW Martinazzi Avenue and SW Tualatin Road (2004)
• Widening of SW Boones Ferry Road from SW Tualatin-Sherwood Road to SW Tualatin Road and streetscape enhancements (Completed Spring 2007)
• Streetscape enhancements in the West Commons area (completed Spring 2007).
• Expansion of Green Parking Lot (Summer 2007)
• Allocation of funds for the Tualatin Library Expansion project (2007-2008).
• Streetscape enhancements in the East Commons area (timeframe TBD).

Central Urban Renewal Plan, Report and Technical Appendices

• Central Urban Renewal Plan
• Central Urban Renewal Report
• Technical Appendix Title Page
• Technical Appendix A
• Technical Appendix B
• Technical Appendix C
• Technical Appendix D
• Technical Appendix E
• Technical Appendix F
• Technical Appendix G
• Technical Appendix H
• Technical Appendix I

Draft 2010 Central Urban Renewal Plan and Report Update

The Central Urban Renewal Plan was adopted in 1975 and has been updated/amended numerous times. The last amendment of the plan was approved by City Council on October 12, 2009. The Central Urban Renewal is currrently undergoing an update that is now under review for a March 2010 adoption. The revised Central Urban Renewal Plan and Report is now available for download in draft form.

A summary list of the proposed projects and a map of their general location is available here for download.

To view the Tualatin City Council's Vision Statement for the Town Center and associated concept drawings, please visit our Town Center Plan webpage.

Leveton Tax Increment District

In 1982 the City of Tualatin annexed a large area of previously unincorporated land to the west of the existing City limits. The purpose of the annexation was to better provide the level of infrastructure and services necessary to support appropriate industrial development.

The area annexed at that time was characterized by blighted conditions, underdevelopment, and faced a variety of physical and economic obstacles to its future use. Sanitary sewer and water services were generally unavailable, the arterial roads serving the area were below standard or non-existent, internal access roads were nonexistent, and several types of non-conforming and substandard land uses (notably, abandoned sand quarries) inhibited further development.

The area's assets, however, made further action desirable. On a regional scale, the location of the area is convenient to the Sunset and I-5 Corridors, and the nearby connection to I-205 provides access to Portland International Airport, and Clackamas and East Multnomah Counties. Within the area, the presence of a large (217 acre), relatively level site under single ownership presented a significant opportunity for the planned, campus-like industrial development which has been proven to be increasingly in demand. Finally, the area fronting upon Pacific Highway presented an opportunity to provide additional land for the general and light industrial development occurring in that corridor.

In view of this potential, the Leveton Tax Increment Plan and Report was adopted in 1985, and updated/amended seven times in a concerted effort to transform the area into a productive industrial district. The last major update was adopted in April 2002.

Detailed information about the Leveton District and the surrounding area is available in the Leveton Tax Increment District Profile.

The Leveton Tax Increment District Profile provides specific information that will be of interest to companies considering relocation to this area.