Oregon City Council Approves $50K TIF for Taft's Tavern Conversion

The incentive will help transform a former car wash into a new bar and restaurant in the city's east side.

Published on Mar. 12, 2026

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The Oregon City Council has approved a $50,000 Tax Increment Financing (TIF) incentive for Matthew Pendergrass and 4080 Washington Street, LLC to convert a former car wash into a new bar and restaurant. City officials described the project as a 'bright spot' for redevelopment on the city's east side.

Why it matters

The TIF incentive is intended to spur investment and revitalize a commercial area on the east side of Oregon City, which has struggled with vacant and underutilized properties in recent years. The conversion of the former car wash into a new dining and entertainment venue is seen as a positive step in the city's economic development efforts.

The details

The $50,000 TIF incentive will help offset the costs for Matthew Pendergrass and his company, 4080 Washington Street, LLC, to transform the former car wash into a new bar and restaurant. City Manager Darin DeHaan highlighted the significant investment the developer has made in the property and said the city is advocating for the TIF incentive to support the project.

  • The Oregon City Council approved the TIF incentive on March 12, 2026.

The players

Matthew Pendergrass

The developer who is converting a former car wash into a new bar and restaurant in Oregon City.

4080 Washington Street, LLC

The company owned by Matthew Pendergrass that is undertaking the conversion project.

Darin DeHaan

The Oregon City Manager who highlighted the project as a 'bright spot' for redevelopment in the city.

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What they’re saying

“I don't know if anybody's taken the opportunity to kind of drive by the old car wash that Mr. Pendergrass is converting to a new bar restaurant, but this kind of shows you what it was. And he's made a significant investment in that property. So part of that would be to provide him with some TIF incentives... we're advocating for $50,000 for this project.”

— Darin DeHaan, City Manager (1023thecoyote.net)

What’s next

The city will continue to monitor the progress of the Taft's Tavern conversion project and ensure the TIF incentive is used as intended to support the redevelopment efforts.

The takeaway

The approval of the TIF incentive for the Taft's Tavern project demonstrates Oregon City's commitment to revitalizing its commercial districts and supporting local businesses that are willing to invest in the community. This type of public-private partnership can serve as a model for other cities looking to spur economic development in underutilized areas.