St. Helens Enters Exclusive Negotiations Agreement to Explore Development of Riverfront Property

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 9, 2025

St. Helens, Ore. - The City of St. Helens is pleased to announce that it has entered into an exclusive negotiations agreement with Romano Capital to explore development opportunities for the City's 24-acre Riverfront Property which was formerly the site of the Boise Cascade Veneer Plant.

Romano Capital will look to develop at least one catalytic project on the site, and potentially multiple projects, consisting of a diverse mix of uses such as a hotel, retail space, restaurants, an open - air market, and housing while incorporating key public spaces and amenities.

Public informational meetings will be held during the master plan review process, and Romano Capital plans to provide regular progress updates to the City of St. Helens at Council meetings.

As a first step, an updated market study and initial outline for the property will be completed in the first 60 days. This will be followed by a first-draft presentation of a schematic development plan within 120 days.

"This partnership represents an important step towards exploring opportunities that enhance our cities growth, economic, vitality, and community amenities," said St. Helens Mayor Jennifer Massey. "We look forward to working collaboratively with Romano Capital to ensure this process reflects the best interest of our citizens and the future of St. Helens."

Romano Capital is a full-service real estate development and investment firm based in Vancouver, Washington, with active projects throughout the Clark County and Portland metro areas. Since its founding in 2003 by Kess Romano, the company has grown into a vertically integrated real estate investment company specializing in community-focused developments. With over 25 completed projects and more than 1,500 residential units delivered, Romano Capital is recognized for its hands-on approach, deep regional expertise, and commitment to building high-quality, resilient spaces that reflect the needs of the communities it serves. The firm offers investment opportunities in its developments through a co-investment model that prioritizes transparency, risk management, and long-term value creation. Learn more at RomanoCapital.com.

"Romano Capital is honored to collaborate with the City of St. Helens on the Riverfront property project," said Greg McGreevey, Vice President of Development at Romano Capital. "We share a vision of transforming the waterfront into a vibrant hub of cultural and economic activity that enhances the historic character of downtown while embracing forward-thinking design, sustainability, and community impact. This partnership reflects our commitment to thoughtful development that serves both present and future generations of St. Helens residents."

Other key objectives in developing a master plan for the site include enhancing public pedestrian connectivity to both the Riverfront District and the Columbia River, incorporating design elements that maximize river views, and enriching the historic streetscape with forward-looking, sustainable architecture, design, and operations.

"We're excited to partner with Romano Capital to reimagine the St. Helens riverfront and create a lasting legacy for our community," said St. Helens City Administrator John Walsh.

Under the agreement, Romano Capital, through its subsidiary Romano Properties , will complete due diligence within 150 days. A final development plan will be proposed within 180 days which would become the basis for a master plan approval process.

The Rive rfront Property development is one part of the City's overall St. Helens Waterfront Redevelopment Project. In 2015, the City acquired two waterfront properties, the 24-acre Riverfront Property (former Veneer site) and the 204-acre St. Helens Industrial Business Park (former Boise Paper Mill site). The City has since been dedicated to reclaiming the waterfront so that it may serve the community in new ways, paying homage to both the past and the future by ensuring dedicated public access to the riverfront and creating new amenities that can attract both new employers and residents to St. Helens.

Further information about the St. Helens Waterfront Redevelopment Project can be found on the City's website at www.sthelensoregon.gov/waterfront .

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For further information regarding the Exclusive Negotiations Agreement between the City of St. Helens and Romano Capital , please contact Communications Officer Crystal King at [email protected] .