Portland, OR — JE Dunn Construction has officially started work on CityFleet’s new Cutter Garage on Swan Island, marking a major step in Portland’s efforts to modernize its fleet maintenance operations. Once completed, the improved facility will better serve the city of Portland with essential services and emergency response.
CityFleet’s new 88,000– square-foot Maintenance Facility will replace the original Kerby Garage that was built in 1922. The renovated building will have the capacity to support more than 2,400 vehicles, including electric fleets and those used for emergency response and essential public services. The upgraded garage will also feature expanded maintenance bays, energy efficient space, improved ventilation, and host new equipment for modern vehicles.
The combination of enhanced workspaces and a more functional layout will give employees the safe, well-designed environment they need to perform maintenance and repairs more efficiently, reducing vehicle downtime and long-term operating costs.
For the duration of the project, JE Dunn has partnered with two respected local small businesses, Zana Construction and Faison Construction, leveraging the unique expertise and capabilities they bring to the team. Together, this team will deliver a stronger project while fostering opportunities that support the continued growth and success of small businesses throughout the Portland construction community.
In 2024, the Portland City Council approved a plan to lease and renovate Cutter Garage. The $57.3 million project is funded through a combination of grants, incentives, CityFleet reserves, and taxable bond financing. About $14 million from the PCEF Collaborating for Climate Action Grant will support the transition of City vehicles to electric models, installation of EV charging ports, and expansion of charging infrastructure to additional City facilities.
The City will lease the facility under a 23-year base term with two optional 10-year extensions, providing long– term flexibility while avoiding the high upfront costs of new construction.
About JE Dunn: JE Dunn Construction, founded in 1924, is a family- and employee-owned company and the eighth-largest domestic general building contractor in the United States, with 27 offices nationwide. For more than a century, we have been building authentic partnerships by putting people first and doing the right thing — for our clients, our partners, and the communities we serve. Our approach prioritizes communication, collaboration, and an integrated suite of services, including general contracting, construction management, EPC, and design-build — delivered with an unwavering commitment to safety, quality, and certainty across a wide range of markets. We exist to enrich lives through inspired people and places.
About CityFleet: CityFleet provides safe, reliable, affordable, clean vehicles and equipment to all City bureaus. Approximately 83 staff perform acquisition and leasing, upfitting, parts management, maintenance, repair, and decommissioning services for over 150 types of vehicles and specialized equipment – reflecting the diverse array of activities that the City of Portland performs. CityFleet’s inventory includes over 3,500 owned and leased assets, including electric and plug‐in hybrid electric vehicles, renewable diesel vehicles, and renewable natural gas vehicles.
