Bend, Oregon – The Old Mill District, a mixed-use retail, dining and entertainment center in Central Oregon, was selected as a finalist in the 2016 Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) 2016 Global Awards for Excellence program. This program is widely recognized as one of the land use industry’s most prestigious award programs. The Old Mill District was selected as one of 26 finalists from among a broad mix of exemplary projects across the world. Winners will be announced this fall at the ULI Fall Meeting in Dallas after judges make site visits to all the finalists.
The Old Mill District was selected as a finalist based on activities that range from the master plan and vision of the development, all the way to the execution and economic impact that it has today. Among the highlights are the redevelopment of an obsolete lumber mill site into a sustainable mixed-use riverfront village that contributes to a more balanced economy. The careful preservation of the site’s heritage with restoration and adaptive reuse of historic mill buildings, as well as the restoration of the natural riverbank environment were also considered.
“A hallmark of ULI is to engage and to provide leadership while giving back to one’s community,” said Steve Navarro, executive vice president, CBRE l The Furman Co., Greenville, South Carolina and a jury member for the awards program. “One of our annual highlights is to recognize, through the Global Awards for Excellence initiative, some of the truly wonderful development projects that have been created in our communities. The candidate pool has grown each year with applicants reaching all parts of the world and representing numerous and varied product types. The finalists this year were all a joy to explore. Large and small, each represents best in class. When a unique and successful project transcends boundaries yet fits perfectly into its immediate community, it exemplifies what we all strive for and should be celebrated.”
The International ULI Awards for Excellence competition judges entries based on leadership, contribution to the community, innovations, public/private partnership, environmental protection and enhancement, response to societal needs, and financial viability. The awards program recognizes the full development process of a project, not just its architecture or design—although these elements play an important role in the overall project. The winning projects will be selected by an international jury made up of ULI members representing a multidisciplinary collection of real estate development expertise, including finance, land planning, development, public affairs, design, and other professional services.
This article appears in Jun 1-8, 2016.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
Does that ‘careful restoration’ include the unpermitted demolition of the Old Mill District’s largest building, with not so much as a slap on the wrist for the crooks that razed it in the middle of the night? Does it include the construction of the gaudy Red Robin that’s been devaluing the riverside for the last dozen years with its light and noise pollution, or the many other chains that have followed suit? Does it include the vast acreage of impervious surfaces for roads and parking spaces, most of which sit vacant most of the time? Does it include the utter absence of mobility options beyond single-occupancy vehicles? Does it include the construction of a wholly unnecessary bridge that forever altered the nature of what was once a river canyon? The only list this cash-grab development should be on is greediest and most exploitative.