$60 Million project under way in Wilsonville.

It's a plan that has started and stopped over nearly two decades. But, now construction of the first Fred Meyer store in Wilsonville are under way. Fred Meyer executives and city leaders broke Ground on the largest commercial construction project in Oregon. Mike Ellis, President of Fred Meyer is happy to be doing business in Wilsonville.
This $60 million dollar investment off I-5 at Boones Ferry road in Wilsonville has been in the works on and off for decades. Design elements were a main concern.
"This project is finally the right idea, the right time and the right fit for Wilsonville," said Wilsonville Mayor Tim Knapp.
Mayor Knapp said it really came down to preserving the historic value of the area. "How can it honor the historical roots, that for Wilsonville are centered in this Old Town area that we're on the doorstep of," said Knapp.
The final design dates back to the late 1800s. The design does not look like a typical shopping center. There are 11 buildings that will house retail, office and even residential apartments.
Fred Meyer will invest some $35 million in the new store and create hundreds of news jobs. "Typically a Fred Meyer store will hire between 225 and 350, that's a lot of folks," said Mike Ellis.
McMenamin's is one of the first to join the project with a 5,000 square foot restaurant. It will sit next door to a century old Methodist church. It's a focal point of the development.
"They're going to take over the church and rebuild the church to historical standards," said Barry Cain, president of Gramor Development. Twenty other companies are also interested in being in the new complex.
Fred Meyer plans to open the new store in July 2011.
Joe Smith @ kgw.com