В Портленде выдано разрешение на строительство общественного рынка имени Джеймса Бирда

James Beard Public Market secures construction permit for downtown Portland project Published 4:40 pm Thursday, August 13, 2026 The James Beard Public Market has secured a construction permit from the city of Portland, moving the long-awaited downtown food hall one step closer to becoming a reality. As announced Thursday, the city issued the permit for the market at 622 S.W. Alder St. The project is expected to open in 2027. The permit marks a significant milestone for the market, which has undergone demolition, design changes and permitting work since the organization purchased the building in January 2025. “This market is happening because of a public-private partnership and this milestone encapsulates the spirit of that partnership,” Jessica Elkan, executive director of the James Beard Public Market, said in a statement. “This is an example of public and private sectors working together to make big projects happen, and a test case for how we can do big things in Portland again.” The market’s future home, formerly known as the Ungar building, sits at the corner of Southwest Alder Street and Sixth Avenue. During demolition, crews uncovered the building’s original timber-framed structure, prompting changes to the project’s design. Updated renderings unveiled earlier this year put that wood structure and Oregon’s timber heritage at the center of the design. Plans for the building call for replacing its north façade with a window wall framed by massive Douglas fir timber columns. The columns will be treated with shou sugi ban, a Japanese wood-preservation technique that chars the surface of the wood to help protect it from water, fire, insects and decay. A large glass canopy will span the main entrance. The project also calls for restoring historic elements of the adjacent Selling Building. Proposed changes include bringing back the building’s original ground-floor glass and columns, along with its second-story terracotta cladding, trim and wood window details. Now, with the construction permit in hand, the project can move into its next phase. “We’re thrilled to see this project moving forward so it can become a cornerstone of Portland’s vibrant local food culture and bring new energy and investment to downtown Portland,” Eric Kutch, director of permitting and development at the City of Portland, said in a statement. Mark Engberg, founder of COLAB Architecture + Urban Design, which led the permitting process, said the project received an unusually fast turnaround from the city. “In my 30 years of doing projects in Portland, this is the fastest turnaround I’ve seen,” Engberg said. The project required coordination among numerous city bureaus, Engberg said, making the permitting process particularly complex. Once complete, the James Beard Public Market will encompass nearly 40,000 square feet and house nearly 40 small businesses. The market is expected to create about 200 jobs and include a teaching kitchen, event space, restaurant, bakery, fish market, butcher, cheese shop, wine merchant, local farm stalls, prepared foods, a cookbook store and fast-casual dining. The year-round market is intended to showcase Oregon’s farmers, food producers, chefs and artisans while giving small businesses a permanent place to sell and connect with customers. The project is named for Portland-born chef, author and educator James Beard, whose influence on American food culture continues to be celebrated through the James Beard Foundation.