Design
Can an Art Collector Save a Portland Ruin?
Jordan Schnitzer wants to turn the long-dilapidated Centennial Mills into the city's next revitalized neighborhood—even if it means reaching into his own pocket.
Walking through Centennial Mills, a cluster of abandoned early-20th-century mill buildings along Portland's Willamette River just north of downtown, it's easy to see both deterioration and potential.
With a golden patina to their aged brick, these former flour and seed mills provide a striking contrast to the shiny new condo towers of the adjacent Pearl District, and their proximity to this burgeoning area could also make for an ideal riverside destination.