Thursday, October 20, 2005
Ikea to build at Cascade Station
Swedish retailer Ikea plans to build a 280,000-square-foot store at Cascade Station, Portland's ill-fated transit-oriented development. As this news site has previously reported, Cascade Station is on Portland's airport light-rail line and in fact has two light-rail stations on that line. Planners zoned the area for small-box retail shops and office spaces, but four years after the light-rail line opened not a single store or office has been built on the site.
Last October, the city gave up and rezoned the site for stores as large as 200,000 square feet. Officials talked about Ikea, but I reported here that I was skeptical as Ikea stores are much larger than 200,000 square feet. Today, Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Ikea announced plans for a 280,000-square-foot store.
"The transit infrastructure will play a key role in this area," said Fred Hansen, TriMet General Manager in a press release issued by the Portland Development Commission. "With IKEA offering home delivery, shoppers can travel to the area on the MAX red line that serves the area every 15 minutes from Beaverton to Cascade Station without a transfer." The press release alsonoted that "the store will also have bike racks for riders utilizing the new bike lanes in the area."
I am sure lots of people will take light rail and ride bicycles to the store to get their Ikea furniture, much of which is made of particle board and is very heavy.
Okay, even with home delivery, I guess I am not so sure.
Last October, the city gave up and rezoned the site for stores as large as 200,000 square feet. Officials talked about Ikea, but I reported here that I was skeptical as Ikea stores are much larger than 200,000 square feet. Today, Portland Mayor Tom Potter and Ikea announced plans for a 280,000-square-foot store.
"The transit infrastructure will play a key role in this area," said Fred Hansen, TriMet General Manager in a press release issued by the Portland Development Commission. "With IKEA offering home delivery, shoppers can travel to the area on the MAX red line that serves the area every 15 minutes from Beaverton to Cascade Station without a transfer." The press release alsonoted that "the store will also have bike racks for riders utilizing the new bike lanes in the area."
I am sure lots of people will take light rail and ride bicycles to the store to get their Ikea furniture, much of which is made of particle board and is very heavy.
Okay, even with home delivery, I guess I am not so sure.
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