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Waterfront Redevelopment Project
A full 12-minute version of this video can be found on our YouTube Channel.
Waterfront Newsletter
Interested in the latest waterfront development updates? Sign up for our Waterfront Redevelopment Project newsletter for current project information, construction alerts, timelines, and other relevant information.
Current Projects Under Construction
Streets and Utilities Extension Project: Riverfront Property (Anticipated completion Sept. 2024)
Waterfront Redevelopment Project Summary
Industry has been at the heart of the City’s waterfront and its economy up until the remaining mills closed in the early 2000s. As the jobs disappeared from the heart of the city, so did many of the people, and the historic downtown has grown quieter. A large stretch of riverfront property with direct access to the Columbia River remained vacant and fenced off from community access under private ownership.
This property is located in an area that unites key elements of historical, cultural, civic, economic, and natural significance for the St. Helens community. The land ties together the City's historic Riverfront District to the north, direct access to the Columbia River and Multnomah Channel to the east, residential districts to the west, and the City's largest remaining piece of available industrial land to the south.
In 2015, the City acquired two waterfront properties, the former Veneer Mill site (approximately 24 acres) and the former Paper Mill site (approximately 204 acres). These properties, in conjunction with the City's wastewater treatment plant property (50 acres), make up the three adjacent properties that create the overall Waterfront Redevelopment Project. A map of the three properties can be found at the bottom of this page.
The City has since been dedicated to reclaiming the waterfront so that it may serve the community in new ways, paying homage to both the past and the future by creating new amenities that can attract both new employers and residents to St. Helens.
Key Project Areas
Riverfront Redevelopment Property - A key development opportunity is an approximate 24-acre property that is the former location of a plywood veneer plant, identified as the Veneer Property. The Veneer Property’s unique waterfront location, volcanic views, and proximity to downtown create a rare opportunity to bring new, mixed development to St. Helens.
Central Waterfront Property - This 50-acre area sits immediately south of the Riverfront Property and unites the Riverfront Property with the St. Helens Industrial Business Park. It is currently home to the City’s 39-acre wastewater treatment facility. The City is evaluating options for repurposing a portion or all of the site to create expanded community access to the St. Helens waterfront, additional public amenities, and increased opportunity for economic development.
St. Helens Industrial Business Park - The southernmost location, this key industrial property was formerly the location of the Boise White Paper, LLC main mill operation, referred to in this report as the Boise White Paper (BWP) Property. It is approximately 204 acres, only 10–20 acres of which are occupied today by Cascade Tissue. This expansive industrial area is located close to US 30, presenting the City with a significant opportunity to attract new employers to the area.
