Future OMSI District

• February 16: The Master Plan undergoes its third public Land Use Hearing and receives Design Commission approval. This approval is a major step forward in bringing the OMSI District to fruition. The City of Portland will be a key partner in the next stages of planning and development.  Information about the Land Use Hearing is available through the Bureau of Development Services. 

• December 15: The Master Plan undergoes its second public Land Use Hearing with the Design Commission. This is a continuation of ongoing discussions and plan revisions. OMSI expects an additional hearing in early 2023. Information about this hearing is available through the Bureau of Development Services.

• August 18: The OMSI District Master Plan undergoes its first review by the City of Portland Design Commission in a public Land Use Hearing. Information about the hearing is available through the Bureau of Development Services.

• OMSI, various partners, and the City of Portland develop funding strategies to create the framework for a development agreement with the City.

• OMSI, in partnership with ECONorthwest, releases the economic impact study of the OMSI District.

• In collaboration with partners, OMSI released the vision for the OMSI District and submits the Master Plan to the City of Portland.

• The State of Oregon commits $5 million towards the construction of a new Water Avenue, a critical infrastructure investment in the OMSI District.

•Portland Community College and Portland Opera join the master planning process.

•Metro awards a $750,000 grant to the City of Portland and OMSI to facilitate engagement with a broad coalition of Indigenous communities and Tribal partners. Tribal engagement co-development is led by the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and The Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians.

• 2019: Mayor Ted Wheeler joins an OMSI board retreat and includes the OMSI District as a top City priority. Prosper Portland is assigned as the bureau lead for the OMSI District.

• 2018: OMSI selects Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) to further refine the OMSI District Master Plan for submittal to the City’s CCMP process.

• 2018: OMSI selects Portland-based Edlen & Co as the master developer, the entity responsible for executing the master plan and developing the OMSI campus.

• 2018: The City Council votes to approve Portland’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan, which includes the OMSI District. The Comprehensive Plan is adopted by the State of Oregon.

• 2016 – 2017: OMSI conducts quarterly meetings with City bureaus, commissioners, landowners in the district, adjacent neighbors, State agencies and private companies, resulting in an understanding of infrastructure and public investment needed to support the OMSI District.

• 2016: OMSI works with renowned global design firm Snøhetta to develop an OMSI District Master Plan. The plan includes detailed input from Prosper Portland, City bureaus, district stakeholders, neighbors, community partners and developers.

• 2015: TriMet completes the MAX Orange line and Tilikum Crossing connecting the future OMSI District to the greater Portland Metro Area like never before.

• 2015-2016: OMSI participates in the City’s land use planning public engagement process.

• 2014: Congressman Blumenauer convenes leaders from OMSI, the City, Oregon Health & Sciences University, Portland State University, and Portland Community College to determine ways to co-invest in the district.

• 2014: At the invitation of the City of Portland, the Urban Land Institute studies the Central Eastside Industrial District and endorses investment in the district.

• 2008: OMSI announces development plans, partners with Portland-based Zimmer Gunsul Frasca Architects (ZGF) to develop a Concept Plan for the OMSI property.