Case Studies : Real Estate

reshaping the landscape of the region

Ball Janik LLP's Real Estate practice group has built a strong record of success for clients in commercial and residential development, real estate finance, property acquisition and sale, and restructuring and workouts. We have specialized knowledge in navigating public and private development projects and have represented clients in some of the largest and most challenging real estate projects in the Pacific Northwest.

    • South Waterfront Urban Redevelopment – Williams & Dame Development

    • The firm represented Williams & Dame Development (WDD) in the $1 billion multi-phase mixed-use redevelopment of 30+ acres of underutilized land into the neighborhood known as the South Waterfront. The project is the largest urban redevelopment in the City’s history. Our attorneys negotiated, drafted and managed a complex development agreement between WDD and the Portland Development Commission that provided for the construction of the first aerial tram built in the United States in decades; an extension of Portland’s vaunted streetcar line; a public park and riverfront greenway; multiple high-rise residential towers and affordable housing.

    • AMB Property

    • Bradley Miller represents AMB Property in leasing transactions in the Seattle and Minneapolis markets.

    • Annexation Overturned

    • In a case of first impression, Ball Janik LLP was lead counsel for the only property owner to successfully challenge the City of Beaverton’s involuntary “island annexation.”

    • City of Portland – Major League Soccer

    • Ball Janik LLP’s Real Estate practice represented the City of Portland in its efforts to renovate PGE Park, an existing AAA Baseball stadium, into a Major League Soccer stadium that would become home to the MLS Portland Timbers.

    • City of Portland – PGE Park AAA Baseball

    • The Real Estate practice represented the City of Portland in all aspects of its project to renovate its aging Civic Stadium into a AAA baseball stadium with corporate skyboxes and other amenities.

    • City of Vancouver – Vancouver Conference Center

    • The firm represented the City of Vancouver and its Downtown Redevelopment Authority in the financing, development and constructdion of the new $73 million Conference Center and Hilton Hotel project.

    • City of Vancouver, Washington – Columbia Riverfront

    • The Real Estate practice negotiated, documented and closed a public-private partnership on behalf of the City of Vancouver for the redevelopment of a former industrial site on the Columbia River into a new four million square foot mixed-use project, which will include mid-rise offices, residential, retail, parking and public amenities.

    • Clackamette Cove – Oregon City, Oregon

    • On behalf of the City of Oregon City, the Real Estate practice negotiated, documented and closed a public-private partnership for the development of Clackamette Cove, a mixed-use project in Oregon City situated on a former landfill and gravel extraction site.

    • Commercial Loan Restructuring

    • The Real Estate practice represented a privately held company that is the financial partner in numerous large commercial real estate projects in the Northwest and assisted the client in the restructuring of approximately $1.2 billion in real estate loans on commercial and residential projects at various stages of development and leasing and sales.

    • Condemnation Stopped

    • A trial team led by Jack Orchard convinced a trial judge to stop condemnation of a clients' 140-acre tract in Forest Grove, and the judge awarded attorney fees to the clients.

    • Condominium De-Annexation

    • Laura Cooper assisted a client with a complex condominium issue, devising a creative de-annexing plan and working to gain approval of the plan from county planning staff, the county surveyor and the Oregon Real Estate Agency.

    • Courthouse Financing Project

    • Ball Janik LLP is providing pro-bono legal services to the Courthouse Facilities Task Force, convened by the Honorable Paul De Muniz, former Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court.

    • Felton Properties – Amberglen

    • The Real Estate practice assisted Felton Properties in the complex acquisition of a multi-building office park located in Hillsboro, Oregon.

    • Fujitsu Semiconductor America, Inc.

    • Christopher Walters assisted Fujitsu Semiconductor America, Inc. with the original design and construction of its wafer fabrication facility in Gresham, Oregon, then one of the most substantial construction projects ever undertaken in Oregon.

    • Hoyt Street Yards

    • Ball Janik LLP represents Hoyt Street Properties, the developer of this mixed-use project on 40 acres of railyard in Portland's Pearl District, which the client how transformed into a high-density residential and commercial neighborhood.

    • Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. – Property Tax Appeal

    • Ball Janik LLP was retained to appeal a property tax increase relating to a former Mervyn’s store at a regional retail mall. Kohl’s had purchased the store and installed its improvements package, leading to the tax increase.

    • Old Mill District

    • Bradley Miller has assisted the Old Mill District in Bend, Oregon with various aspects of the site development, including lease negotiations.

    • Pronghorn Resort

    • Laura Cooper assisted the developer of the award-winning Pronghorn destination club and golf resort in every stage of development and operation, including the negotiation and documentation of the resort’s financing.

    • Seattle Seahawks Stadium

    • The firm represented the Washington State Public Stadium Authority in the $430 million development, construction and leasing of Seahawks Stadium.

    • State of Oregon - Mill Creek

    • The Real Estate practice negotiated, documented and closed a Disposition and Development Agreement for the sale of a 52.6-acre parcel in the new Mill Creek Corporate Center to a Fortune 500 company, which will develop a 465,000 square-foot regional distribution facility.

    • Strategic Investment Program (SIP) Successes

    • Ball Janik LLP Partners Jack Orchard and Steve Janik have represented several companies in successfully obtaining approvals and agreements under Oregon’s Strategic Investment Program (SIP), a property tax program created to induce companies to build new facilities in Oregon and increase employment.

    • Successful Financings

    • Jack Orchard led a Ball Janik LLP finance team through three financings for the development and operation of Mary's Woods at Marylhurst, one of Oregon’s largest continuing care retirement communities.

    • Trammell Crow Company

    • Bradley Miller represents Trammell Crow Company in various aspects of real estate development, including its recent project at Cascade Station near the Portland International Airport.

    • Trammell Crow Company – Cascade Station

    • Ball Janik LLP assisted Trammell Crow Company, one the nation's leading developers and investors in real estate, with the acquisition and development of Cascade Station, a landmark mixed-use project adjacent to the Portland International Airport.

    • Trammell Crow Company – University of Oregon Research Facility

    • The Real Estate practice group represented Trammell Crow Company, one the nation's leading developers and investors in real estate, in the negotiation of a ground lease with the University of Oregon for the construction of a research facility, the Oregon Research Institute (ORI), to be located in the City of Portland.