Just got this off Jack Bog’s ^[1] site, so decided I needed to comment with my thoughts. The primary developer of Killingsworth Station at N. Killingsworth and Interstate has pulled out of the project, leaving the PDC to find someone new. Both on N. Interstate and NE MLK, a couple of high profile projects have now gone down in flames that were associated with the PDC. On NE MLK, the Vanport project’s current non-status I contend has more to do with the developer and thier non-ability to attract tenents than it does with the PDC. Now, the PDC I believe is at fault to as they keep extending the contract for years even though nothing is occurring.
I don’t know enough about the “why” behind the Killingsworth Station and the decision by the developer, so can’t comment much. I do know that this project would change Interstate for the better. It only takes one big project to change an area in my opinion. Look at what the Nike Factory Store did for that portion of NE MLK. We walk by the Killingsworth Station vacant lot on the way to New Seasons and I recently commented that I was glad they kept it mowed and cleaned, but was worried that construction hadn’t started yet. Now I know.

What’s wierd is that between N. Interstate and NE MLK is N. Mississippi which is booming. And I mean BOOMING. It is becoming the scapegoat for all the gentrification crap being thrown about. There are now big developers looking to build condos and more storefronts there and I haven’t heard peep that the PDC is funding it. I do know the PDC supported many of the small business owners on the street with storefront improvement loans, so that may be their role on that.

Just my two cents.