CCC is proud to share that Dr. Andy Mendenhall, CCC’s President and CEO, is a member of the Central City Roundtable, a cross-sector leadership group focused on supporting the recovery and long-term health of Portland’s central city.
Convened by Mayor Keith Wilson and co-chaired by Nolan Lienhart, Director of Planning and Urban Design at ZGF Architects, the Roundtable brings together senior leaders from business, real estate, arts and culture, education, philanthropy, and community institutions. The group was formed to help carry forward the recommendations outlined in All In On Portland’s Central City, the roadmap developed through Governor Kotek’s Central City Task Force in 2025.
A Shared Vision for Portland’s Central City
The All In On Portland’s Central City report describes the central city as being at an inflection point. It identifies major challenges, including the lasting effects of the pandemic, public safety concerns, visible homelessness, budget shortfalls, service gaps, and historically high office vacancy rates. At the same time, it emphasizes that the central city remains deeply important to the region as a center of innovation, culture, transportation, housing, and civic life.
Rather than focusing only on recovery in the narrow sense, the report outlines a broader vision for Portland’s urban core as a place where people live, gather, and build together. That vision centers on three ideas: a central city that serves as the region’s gathering place, complete urban neighborhoods that support people of all ages and incomes, and a hub of innovation and opportunity where Portland’s talent, creativity, and institutions can thrive.
The report also outlines measurable goals to be accomplished by 2030, including:
- Foot traffic fully recovered across central city neighborhoods, approaching pre-pandemic levels
- 2 million square feet of net office absorption
- 2,500 new housing units in the pipeline
Why the Roundtable Was Created
The report makes clear that recovery will require more than momentum alone. It calls for organized, cross-sector leadership to maintain focus, coordinate efforts, and move implementation forward over time. That is the role the Central City Roundtable is intended to play.
From 2025 through 2030, the Roundtable is expected to help steward the vision, elevate ideas and projects, and track progress through public accountability measures. It is intended to bridge sectors rather than replace existing organizations, with a focus on implementation and measurable progress.
“I’m humbled to serve on Mayor Wilson’s, Central City Roundtable. CCC is committed to elevating the discussion and offering solutions for the challenges which drive homelessness within our region. We understand these issues require our region’s systems of health care, housing, public safety and human services to work better and faster, together.”
-Dr. Andy Mendenhall, CCC President and CEO
Why This Matters to CCC
This work is especially relevant to CCC because our organization is deeply rooted in the central city through housing, health care, recovery services, employment programs, and community partnerships. We understand firsthand the health of downtown Portland is connected to the health of the people who live, work, heal, and seek stability here.
A thriving central city must include not only economic recovery, but also livability, access to services, and a commitment to supporting people with complex needs. Andy’s participation in the Roundtable reflects CCC’s commitment to collaborative, long-term solutions that strengthen both individual well-being and community vitality.
We are honored to have CCC represented in this effort and look forward to the work ahead.
Visit the Central City Roundtable website for more information or to follow updates.
