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In November 2011, developer John Russell took on an ambitious project.
For the first time in modern history, a foundry was used to recreate large sections of a cast-iron facade. It once adorned the Hallock & McMillan Building at 237 S.W. Naito Parkway. Russell wants to restore the structure - regarded as the oldest commercial building in Portland - as a creative office space, but can't until the neighborhood comes to life.
"That little building is surrounded by parking lots, and until those get developed I just don't think it's feasible," said Russell, founder of Russell Development Co. "It's so expensive to do the restoration the way that I would insist on doing it that you need pretty significant...