CEO moves from Arizona to Portland's poshest condo tower - and says he LOVES his new life in city's notorious downtown

By ALYSSA GUZMAN, US NEWS REPORTER Published: 14:45, 22 April 2026 | Updated: 14:51, 22 April 2026 A CEO bought a part-time home in Oregon to live in a ritzy condo tower, and insists Portland's notorious downtown area isn't as bad as its reputation often suggests.  David Routt, CEO of Bridgewell Building Materials, forked out $845,000 for a condo at the Ritz-Carlton in February 2025 as a way to experience the often-divisive city firsthand. 'Portland has a lot to offer, and a lot of what they say about Portland is exaggerated,' he told The Oregonian.  The millionaire boss loved the homelessness-driven, drug-crisis-heavy city so much that he recently bought a three-bedroom condo on the same floor of his existing one for $1.65million, he told the outlet.  'The Ritz-Carlton turned into an opportunity to buy at a discount,' he said. 'We knew the building and I knew what I wanted this time.'  Their new unit is a corner one and has more room to allow his family to live comfortably, compared to his initial one-bedroom space, which is now back on the market.   Routt, who primarily lives in Arizona, recently hosted 18 people for Easter dinner at his part-time home in the Ritz.  He enjoys the luxury amenities offered by the building, including a 24-hour concierge service and having access to a members-only lounge.  David Routt, the head honcho for Bridgewell Building Materials, bought his first condo in Portland's Ritz Carlton in 2025. He insisted the city's notorious downtown isn't as bad as people say  The Arizonian, who lives part-time in Portland, recently bought a three-bedroom condo on the same floor with an amazing view (pictured)  Residents can also book the hotel's massage and spa services directly to their homes and have food delivered from the fine-dining restaurant in the building. Hotel staff can also retrieve their dry cleaning and help them with their needs.  The 132 condos atop the 35-story tower began attracting eager buyers in July 2025, after a change in ownership led to prices being slashed in half. That wasn’t always the case. When the building opened in 2023, many prospective residents steered clear of the high-priced units, citing concerns about downtown Portland’s safety, according to The Oregonian. Earlier this month, a Portland man had his day in court for shoving a commuter on the train tracks in the city. Michael Moreland, 33, was sentenced to five years and 10 months in prison for the act, which he said was fueled by drug addiction.  The conductor told investigators he saw Moreland running near the tracks, so he had slowed down.  As soon as he saw Moreland push the commuter, Chastain pressed the emergency stop button and the train halted just a foot or two away from the victim in May 2024.  Moreland, who claims to have no memory of the crimes he committed, said in court on April 16: 'Those actions were completely unwarranted, undeserved and extremely frightening. And that’s something that I’m truly sorry for. 'I have struggled with addiction in my life, but I still hold myself 100 percent accountable for my actions.' The view from his one-bedroom condo, which he is now selling after purchasing the three-bedroom unit  'Portland has a lot to offer, and a lot of what they say about Portland is exaggerated,' he said. 'The Ritz-Carlton turned into an opportunity to buy at a discount'  Last month, Elephants Delicatessen was set on fire after a woman using a torch to look inside nearby garbage cans accidentally ignited a piece of trash. The flames quickly spread to the deli’s roof and interior. The blaze left the deli's future uncertain, with its reopening in doubt. A nearby BottleDrop, where people can recycle cans and bottles for change, announced it would be closing due to the area becoming a magnet for drug dealers and users to gather. Neighboring businesses have said it is common to see 'canners' – those redeeming the bottle deposits – passed out in the parking lot or sidewalk outside.   In May 2025, reporters from The Oregonian observed people using drugs outside a BottleDrop site.  Several businesses that shared space with the troubled location, including a Dick’s Sporting Goods, chose not to renew their leases, with some citing the presence of homeless people as a factor in their decision.  The city has faced years of rising crime and quality-of-life concerns since 2020. While violent crime has declined from recent record highs, property crime remains elevated and homelessness has continued to increase.   In October, the Daily Mail observed a woman repeatedly bashing herself in the head and carrying out the act of self-harm while under the influence in downtown Portland.  The Oregon city has been dealing with a years-long crime wave. In October, the Daily Mail observed a woman bashing herself in the head and carrying out the act of self-harm while under the influence The Daily Mail also observed a homeless man inhaling a bubbling substance from a scrap piece of aluminum Citizen journalist Kevin Dahlgren and other locals told the Daily Mail that the middle-aged woman is regularly accosted by a group of unknown men. They say she is taken to a nearby motel or apartment, where she is forced to shower, before being subjected to horrific sexual assaults. Portland residents, specifically those in the Old Town area of the city, who know the woman said the group attacks can go on for days before she is dumped back on the streets. Dahlgren said he fears the woman is also battling severe drug issues. The Daily Mail also observed a man inhaling a bubbling substance from a scrap piece of aluminum. He said he was homeless after losing his job.  Another person broke into a vehicle, smashing the window, before being arrested.   'Crime out here is just really common, this is extremely common – you can usually hear the smashes, the police don't care – they're not going to stop them', Dahlgren told the Daily Mail.  No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. 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