Redd construction time-lapse from Sam Beebe on Vimeo.

PORTLAND, Ore. – July 26, 2018 – A rising steel beam, a bustling food truck, a racing delivery trike – activity is accelerating in Portland’s Central Eastside as The Redd on Salmon Street (the Redd) comes to life. A project of Ecotrust, the Portland-based nonprofit forging new ways of living and doing business, the Redd is a two-block campus that links back-of-house support for burgeoning food businesses with a world-class event center to accelerate a new regional food economy. Now in its final phase of construction, the Redd is anticipated to be fully operational late 2018. When complete, the campus will represent a combined 69,000 square feet of production, warehouse and event space.

“The Redd is buzzing,” said Emma Sharer, general manager of the Redd. “That a two-block campus can make urban-rural links, catalyze food businesses, inspire fresh thinking, and welcome in the public to celebrate and connect – that’s the kind of confluence we at Ecotrust believe drives real change.”

Renovations are currently underway at Redd East, which occupies the block between SE 8th and SE 9th Streets at SE Salmon Street. Walsh Construction, which was also the construction partner for the redevelopment of the Natural Capital Center, Ecotrust’s landmark green building in Portland’s Pearl District, is deploying the best of green building standards to transform the historic 1918 ironworks while retaining the building’s working heritage and high-impact scale. Design features include a state-of-the art solar roof, funded by PGE’s Renewable Development Fund that will supply a third of the building’s energy; permeable and flexible spaces; natural lighting; efficient fixtures; low VOC paint; and FSC-certified wood – including beautiful cedar beams gifted by the Coquille Tribe to Ecotrust.

Redd East is on track to become the go-to venue for high impact events in Portland. In its nascent stages, the former foundry was host to diverse events, from regional food buyer fairs to an 800-person signature event, Light Up the Redd, that sparked critical examination of food system inequities. Ecotrust is now booking events for Redd East’s soaring Main Hall, tech-enabled Board Room, generous Outdoor Plaza and fully-equipped Community Kitchen event spaces, each of which will be available beginning January 2019.

“Redd East is almost ready for takeoff,” said Ecotrust’s Director of Events and Partnerships Jeanne Kubal. “These are inspiring spaces that will be a launchpad for great ideas and meaningful milestones. And what’s more, Redd East will also be a platform for partnerships – we are working with a group of diverse, creative caterers and community partners who are ready to pair their talents with the quality ingredients pouring into Redd West from the region’s best producers.”

Ecotrust is building out robust programming for the Redd East venue for 2019 and beyond, including cooking demos and classes, national conferences and festivals, and pop-up events. On March 2, 2019, the organization will host a grand opening celebration to welcome the community and showcase all the campus offerings.

The working hub of the Redd campus, Redd West, is located between SE 7th Street and SE 8th Street on SE Salmon Street. Its warehousing, aggregation, distribution and production activities have been rapidly expanding since its 2015 opening. Eighty percent of the dry and cold storage space managed by B Line Urban Delivery is leased, giving producers like Ground Up PDX and Cattail Creek Lamb access to urban markets and leading retailers. SoupCycle is crafting a weekly line-up of soups, salads and sandwiches with products from Redd users including Organically Grown Company. And Wilder, another Redd tenant, is working with Portland Pupusas and Taqueria, which opened June 1 in the lot of Redd East, to put local meats on chef Eli Marroquin’s menu.

“Across the campus, connections are coming together,” said General Manager Emma Sharer. “The table has been laid. Now we need to bring Redd East to completion so the conversation can really begin.”
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About Ecotrust
Ecotrust is powered by the vision of a world where people and nature thrive together. Since 1991, we have partnered with local communities from California to Alaska to build new ways of living and doing business. From forestry to finance, food access to green building, we work to advance social equity, economic opportunity, and environmental well-being. Together, we are making this place we live a home that we love. Learn more at www.ecotrust.org

About the Redd on Salmon Street
The Redd on Salmon Street is a new Ecotrust development located in the heart of Portland’s historic industrial Central Eastside district, designed to support the growth of a more equitable, restorative, and delicious food system through a working hub and world-class events center. Learn more at www.reddonsalmon.com.

Updated Aug. 30 to reflect new date for grand opening celebration.