A long-vacant building a block from the Oregon Convention Center is on track to come back to life as a 14,000-square-foot food hall, bar, and event space, complete with an outdoor patio that could host up to 10 food carts. The property at 910 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. will be redeveloped by Prosper Portland in partnership with a private operator, with planners pegging the cost of the work at roughly $7.5 million. Project leaders say the aim is to give convention visitors and neighborhood residents more local dining options and a year-round gathering spot.
According to DJC Oregon, Prosper Portland’s board on Wednesday approved three resolutions to push the plan forward, including a minor tweak to the Lloyd-Holladay renewal plan and an intergovernmental agreement with Metro to seek a $3 million loan. The outlet reports that Prosper is putting in about $4 million, with ChefStable, the selected master lessee, contributing $500,000 toward the estimated $7.5 million redevelopment.
Building history and project scope
Prosper Portland filings show the 910 Building was purchased in 2005 as part of broader plans for a convention-center hotel and has sat largely empty since it was deemed unsafe in 2014. The agency’s draft findings outline a project scope that includes interior renovations, seismic upgrades, partial demolition and infrastructure work to support a food cart pod next to the main hall. The concept calls for a flexible, four-season layout with a bar and event space that is meant to complement activity at the Oregon Convention Center, according to a public notice from Prosper Portland.
Timeline and approvals
Preliminary schematic designs by Portland firm Parti Architecture are complete, and staff plan to submit the project for city design review in March, as reported by DJC Oregon. Prosper expects to issue a request for proposals for a construction manager and general contractor in May or June, with construction slated to begin this fall and run about nine to ten months. Under that schedule, the commercial spaces could open in late summer 2027. The intergovernmental agreement with Metro would carry an interest rate of roughly 4 percent and a 10-year payback period if the Metro Council signs off, according to the outlet.
Why city leaders back the idea
Prosper Portland’s findings argue that the project will remove a long-blighted structure, boost activity in the Lloyd district and create a convenient dining option for convention guests, public benefits the agency says justify the investment. Staff also note that using a construction manager and general contractor delivery method could speed the work and limit risk on an older building, according to a findings report from Prosper Portland. The notice further describes plans to make the space safe and accessible while adding long-term value to the surrounding neighborhood.
ChefStable's role and experience
ChefStable has been tapped as the master leaser, responsible for recruiting and managing vendors and running on-site programming. The group has prior experience with pods and food-hall style projects in Portland, including a high-profile downtown food cart pod revamp and delivery-focused "digital food hall" concepts, according to Portland Monthly. That local track record was a key factor in selecting ChefStable to oversee the vendor mix for the Lloyd project.
What’s next for neighbors and vendors
The next major steps include city design review in March, the expected Metro Council review of the loan and a construction manager and general contractor selection process in late spring. Neighbors and prospective vendors are likely to be watching those milestones as the project moves toward a planned ground-breaking in the fall and a projected late-summer 2027 opening.
