Con-Way Slabtown Redevelopment

GBD partnered with Con-way Freight to transform 18 acres of former industrial land and surface parking into one of Portland's most successful mixed-use urban neighborhoods. Adopted by the City of Portland in 2013 following an extensive public review process, the master plan established a long-term vision for a vibrant, pedestrian-oriented district that integrates housing, retail, office space, parks, and public open spaces while reconnecting the neighborhood through a network of walkable streets and multi-modal connections.

GBD developed a flexible framework to guide redevelopment over multiple phases while ensuring each new project contributed to a cohesive neighborhood identity. A defining feature of the plan is its central green spine, which links NW Quimby and Thurman Streets with landscaped pedestrian and bicycle connections, stormwater management features, and inviting public gathering spaces. Working closely with the City of Portland, GBD also established design guidelines that prioritize active ground floors, building entries, retail storefronts, and residential frontages along public open spaces.

Redevelopment began in 2015 with the adaptive reuse of a former warehouse into Slabtown Marketplace, anchored by New Seasons Market, alongside the new LL Hawkins mixed-use residential building. Subsequent phases included an adaptive-reuse renovation and the completion of Carson and Carson South, adding 385 apartments, curated ground-floor retail, generous public plazas, and a shared underground parking structure accommodating approximately 600 vehicles and more than 500 bicycles.

Today, the Slabtown Redevelopment stands as a model for urban infill and adaptive reuse, demonstrating how thoughtful master planning can transform underutilized industrial land into a thriving, transit-oriented neighborhood. The redevelopment has delivered hundreds of new homes, restored historic buildings, expanded retail opportunities, and created high-quality public spaces that continue to shape the growth and character of Portland's Slabtown district.