Trains to resume near unstable Centennial Mills building
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Union Pacific plans to run freight trains near the burned-out shell of the Centennial Mills building. Photo: Kale Williams/Axios
The gutted shell of Centennial Mills in Northwest Portland remains at risk of "imminent collapse" as freight trains are set to resume service near the structure, city officials said Monday.
Why it matters: Vibrations from passing trains could cause the unstable building to come down, potentially injuring people and spreading asbestos-contaminated debris, city administrator Raymond Lee said.
Catch up quick: A four-alarm blaze tore through the building on Aug. 2, leaving the 116-year-old, eight-story structure a gutted shell with a water tower perched precariously on top.
- K-9 searches indicated human remains are likely inside the building, though no deaths or injuries had been confirmed as of Monday.
- Investigators have been unable to enter the structure due to safety issues, and the cause of the fire remains unknown.
What they're saying: Moving trains through the area "poses serious risk to our community and our environment," Lee said at a Monday press conference.
- Vibrations from passing trains "could trigger the collapse of the building, resulting in death or serious injury to those on the train and damage to the surrounding property," he said.
- The city "has very limited authority" to stop the trains from passing by the structure, which sits across the street from the tracks, he said.
Threat level: In addition to the risk to anyone near the building if it comes down, a collapse could spread asbestos-laden dust to nearby apartments and businesses in the densely populated Pearl District.
The other side: Union Pacific confirmed to Axios that it planned to resume service in the area as soon as Monday.
- "With no end date on when this long-abandoned property will be demolished, we must consider the disruption the closure of this critical rail corridor has on regional industries, small businesses, ports and consumer goods," company spokesperson Robynn Tysver told Axios.
- Union Pacific will reduce train speeds in the area, restrict rail cars loaded with toxic materials, and park loaded cars on the tracks closest to the building to act as a buffer, Tysver said.
Context: Centennial Mills had been empty, derelict and covered in graffiti for years before the fire.
- The site was owned by Prosper Portland until 2024, when it was bought by private developers.
- Most recently, the Portland Design Commission approved plans to redevelop the area to include hundreds of apartment units, retail space and a nightclub, per the Oregonian.
What's next: The city has told the current owner, Stuart Lindquist, that demolition must begin by Friday.
- How the building will be demolished has yet to be announced.