Portland Homeless: City Council Abandons Terminal 1 Proposal

Looking for a 14-acre property along the Portland waterfront? Well, there's one about to be listed for sale. Again.

The city has finally closed the book on a proposal to turn the Terminal 1 site into a homeless shelter. The plan, which would have created a 400-bed homeless shelter, had been criticized almost from the get-go.

The plan, by developer Homer Williams, would have eventually created a one-stop shopping area for the city'd homeless including housing and access to social services.

But the property had already been listed for sale by the city's Bureau of Environmental Services, which owns it. That process was put on hold while the city negotiated with Williams. Also, the state had raised issues about the viability of turning the property - which was zoned for industrial use - into an area where people could live.

On Wednesday, the City Council voted again to have the property listed for sale. The Bureau of Environmental Services will accept bids through November 18th with the hope of getting a deal in place by early next year.

As for a new plan to deal with the city's homeless population, that is still being worked out.

Photo City of Portland