Design Commission approves apartment building at NW 19th & Quimby (images)

The Design Commission has a approved a mixed use building at NW 19th & Quimby designed by SERA Architects. The project for developer Urban Asset Advisors will include 90 residential units, and approximately 2,100 sq ft of ground floor retail space. Parking for 47 cars will be provided, 34 of them in a mechanized system. Parking for 116 bicycles will be provided, primarily via racks located in the units. A common room and exterior roof terrace for the use of the residents will be provided at the 6th floor.

19th & Quimby

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Weekly Roundup: Inclusionary Zoning, Housing Affordability, Parking Minimums and more

The new location for the Post Office Processing & Distribution Center, formerly part of Colwood Golf Course. The site was rezoned to allow industrial uses in 2013

The new location for the Post Office Processing & Distribution Center, formerly part of Colwood Golf Course. The site was rezoned to allow industrial uses in 2013. (Image: Portland Development Commission).

The Oregonian reported on a measure intended to “cut red tape for affordable housing”. Under temporary rules going before the City Council this week buildings in the Central and Gateway plan districts, with at least 5 units of affordable housing, will no longer have go before the Design Commission. The projects will instead by reviewed through a Type IIx Design Review, where the initial decision is made by Bureau of Development Services staff. Unless extended, the new code will last until October 6th.

BikePortland wrote that as the repeal of Oregon’s ban on Inclusionary Zoning heads to Kate Brown’s desk, “the fight for affordable proximity moves to City Hall“. Representatives for Mayor Hales Commissioner Saltzman told BikePortland that proposals to implement Inclusionary Zoning in Portland are currently being worked on.

Portland Shoupistas argued that “minimum parking requirements can neutralize inclusionary zoning”. A proposal to add new minimum parking requirements in Northwest Portland is set to go before the Planning & Sustainability Commission on Tuesday.

As reported here on Tuesday, a building permit is currently under review for a project at 5816 SE Foster Rd. The Foster Powell blog asked “Could Multi-unit Housing on Foster Help Maintain Affordability?”

The Portland Mercury reported on a proposal to move the Kevin J. Duckworth Memorial Dock, currently located adjacent to the Eastbank Esplanade, to a new site on Swan Island adjacent to the new Daimler Trucks North America Headquarters.

The City will pay $34.7 million to acquire land near the airport, in order to allow the Post Office Redevelopment in the Pearl to move ahead, wrote The Oregonian. The price is substantially more than the fair market value, which PDC Director Quinton told the paper “is in the ‘$17 to $20 million range.'”

Under Construction in the Central Eastside: 419 E Burnside (images)

This post is an updated version of a post originally published on December 3rd 2014.

Construction is underway on 419 E Burnside, a 6 story mixed use building in the Central Eastside. The building will contain 157 residential apartment units, as well as two ground floor 2 live / work units. Continuous retail spaces will front onto E Burnside. 50 parking spaces will be provided for residents, as well as 12 parking spaces for the adjacent Central City Concern building, which will remain. Bike parking will be dispersed throughout the building. The design of the building is by Portland based Myhre Group Architects for Dallas based developer Trinsic Residential Group.

419 E Burnside
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Metro Reports: Faubion Elementary School, Pearl District Hampton Inn, Lents Town Center Property #3 and more

The Faubion Elemen

The new Faubion Elementary School by Bora Architects

Every week, the Bureau of Development Services publishes lists of Early Assistance applications, Land Use Reviews and Building Permits. We publish the highlights.

Steelhead Architecture have requested Early Assistance for the Lightbox Going at NE Going and N Williams:

New Construction – three new units on one property.

Carleton Hart Architecture have requested Early Assistance for a project at Lents Town Center Property #3 (North):

New 4-story wood-framed multi-unit housing with 68 units and a community space. Working with the PHB.

GBD Architectects have scheduled a Pre-Application Conference to discuss a project at 1331 NW 17th Ave:

Pre-Application Conference to discuss a possibleType III Design Review or possible Community Design Standards Plancheck Review (depending upon the size of the building) for a new mixed-use multi-dwelling residential building. The applicant requests development-related information and the assigned Planner to compare the Design Review and Community Standards tracks. The proposed new development may range from 55 to 120 feet in height with a range of 4:1 to 7:1 FAR. Parking will be accommodated within the building. Number of spaces and configuration has not been determined. The existing commercial building will be demolished.

SERA Architects have scheduled a Pre-Application Conference to discuss a project at 905 NW 17th Ave:

Pre-Application Conference to discuss a Type III Design Review for a new 6-8 story mixed use building with 140-190 residential units, ground floor retail and below grade parking – approximately 70 spaces.

Soderstrom Architects have submitted a project at the St John Fisher Parish for a Conditional Use Review:

Type III Conditional Use Review to construct a new parish hall and make alterations to existing church and church rectory.

Demolition permits were issued to Koz Development for two buildings at 1015 NW 16th Ave, including the former Slabtown bar:

Demolish single family residence, infill basement, cap sewer, remove all debris

Demolish tavern, cap sewer, remove all debris

CIDA Architects have submitted a project at 5816 SE Foster Rd for building permit review:

Construct new 3 story (30) unit apartment building; with associated site work ***see 16-125884-CO separate permit for trash enclosure and covered bike parking***

Urban Development Group have submitted a project at 3701 SE Caruthers St for building permit review:

New 4 story 30 unit apartment building with (1) retail space on ground floor. Site improvements and flow-through planter.

A building permit was issued to In Situ Architecture for a project at 3740 SE Haig:

Addition of 2 stories to existing single story duplex (with unit on main level and one in basement) to create 4 plex, new units are 2 story units, detached trash enclosure is 20sf

SRG Partnership have submitted drawings for the Knight Cancer Research Building for building permit review:

75% plans for 6 story medical research building , 2 levels of below grade parking 1st floor retail.

A building permit was issued for a project at 1308 NE Dekum St:

New 3 story (28 unit) modular apartment building; see comments and project file for scope of modular reviewed by state.

A building permit was issued to Bora (formerly Boora) Architects for the Faubion Elementary School Rebuild:

New three story, 133,000 sf pre kindergarten through 8th grade school with spaces for Concordia University college of education classrooms, offices, and community service partner organizations

A building permit was issued to Gary Brink & Associates for the above ground work at the Pearl District Hampton Inn & Suites:

New 8 story hotel with 243 guestrooms, 104 parking stalls above grade, ground floor retail, indoor pool. Slab-on-grade, 3 levels of PT concrete floor system and 4 levels of non-combustible steel stud/composite joists.

Mixed income development on Riverplace Parcel 3 has first Design Advice hearing (images)

A mixed income development on Riveplace Parcel 3 has gone before the Design Commission for its first Design Advice hearing. The project by Ankrom Moisan Architects will include two buildings: a 14 story west building with 209 units of affordable housing; and a 6 story east building with 162 units of market rate housing. The project is being jointly developed by San Francisco based affordable housing provider BRIDGE Housing and Portland based Williams & Dame. The landscape architects are Lango Hansen.

The ground floor of the east building will include 12,880 sq ft of retail space, which could be occupied by a neighborhood scale grocer. The east building will also contain 16,460 sq ft of “maker space”. Vehicular parking will be shared between the two buildings, with 163 spaces provided for the residents and 39 spaces for the retail spaces. Over 500 bicycle parking spaces will be provided.

Riverplace Parcel 3

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Weekly Roundup: PSU Smith Student Union, A La Carts, Rheinlander restaurant and more

PSU Smith Student Union

Concept for a renovated PSU Smith Student Union. Should the project move ahead architects will oarde selected to develop a final design.

Portland Architecture wrote an extended summary of the Restore Oregon hosted mayoral debate, where candidates discussed housing, density and preservation.

In article titled “Gatekeepers of Portland character” KGW wrote about the Portland Design Commission, who are responsible for reviewing all major developments in the Central City.

The Oregonian reported on the approval of 4th and Harrison, which neighbors believe is in error. The approved building has a floor area ratio (FAR) of almost 9:1, achieved through a combination of the 6:1 base FAR for the site and 3:1 in bonuses. While the applicants and City staff believe that the site is eligible for bonuses, neighborhoods contend that it isn’t, and that any building on the site should have an FAR of no more than 6:1.

A bill that would allow local governments to implement Inclusionary Zoning has passed the Oregon Senate, reported The Oregonian. The bill will now heads to the House, where it is likely to pass.

The Hollywood Star News asked if the Rheinlander building on NE Sandy is to bite der dust? An Early Assistance application was recently received by the City for the site at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd, indicating that the restaurant site could be redeveloped into a mixed use building of 2 to 4 stories.

The Multnomah County Health Department Headquarters will be named after Gladys McCoy. According to the Willamette Week McCoy was “the first black member of the Portland school board, the first black member of the Multnomah County Board and the first black chair of that board.”

The Willamette Week reported that the A La Carts food cart pod has closed. The site at 4926 SE Division St is set to be redeveloped by Urban Development Group, who are planning a mixed use building with a branch of the Green Zebra grocery chain at the ground floor.

A transcript of a recent American Assets Trust earning call indicated that the company is “currently evaluating various alternatives” for how to move ahead with Oregon SquareLeases at the existing office buildings on the site are being allowed to expire in order to allow the site to be redeveloped. Stating that they do not wish to “act in haste, repent at leisure”, CEO and Chairman of the AAT Board of Directors Ernest Rady stated that they are “looking at every opportunity, including some office, including some apartments, including phasing it and we are now working on examining each of those alternatives. It is a real opportunity and we want to make sure we make the most of it.” A decision on how to move forward is expected by September.

Portland State University students will this April vote in a referendum over whether to increase student fees in order to finance a major renovation of the Smith Memorial Student Union, writes the PSU Vanguard. Two possible solutions include a $65 million renovation and a $90 million renovation.

Kaiser Permanente will open a clinic in the Pearl District, in one of the retail spaces in the Cosmopolitan on the Park tower. Kaiser told that the Portland Business Journal that the clinic will offer “convenient access for routine everyday care and minor health issues.”

The Portland Chronicle published photos of Otak Architects’ under construction Cook Street Lofts on N Vancouver Avenue. The site noted that this project and adjacent project The Woods will “bring 154 units to the block previously home to three single-family dwellings”.

WorldMark on Naito goes before Landmarks Commission (images)

The Historic Landmarks Commission has reviewed designs for a proposed WorldMark on SW Naito Parkway. The 6 story project by SERA Architects would include a mixture of studio, one and two bedroom units, available to members of the WorldMark by Wyndham vacation ownership program. The project will include a retail space fronting on Naito Parkway. No vehicular parking is proposed.

WorldMark by Wyndham

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Metro Reports: Pearl Block 26, Towne Storage Building, Grant High School and more

Towne Storage

The proposed renovation of the Towne Storage Building, also known as the Blake McFall Company Building

Every week, the Bureau of Development Services publishes lists of Early Assistance applications, Land Use Reviews and Building Permits. We publish the highlights.

LRS Architects have requested Design Advice for Block 26 at NW 14th & Raleigh:

Design Advice Request to discuss a Type III Design Review for a proposed new 12-story residential development with 93 affordable dwelling units. The ground floor will include 18 parking spaces.

Early Assistance has been requested for a project at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd:

Early Assistance appt to discuss the proposed mixed use bldg; 2-4 stories, with ground floor retail or office uses.

Mahlum Architects have requested Early Assistance for the Grant High School Modernization project:

Modernization of existing Grant Highschool, entire facility. Partial demo, full remodel.

A building permit was issued to LRS Architects for a portion of the work at the Towne Storage Builidng at 17 SE 3rd Ave:

Interior demolition and structural upgrade, no exterior or site work improvements included – structural upgrade/ seismic strengthening to ASCE 41-13 in preparation for future change of occupancy. No occupancy during construction.

A building permit was issued to Urban Development Group for a project at 5030 SE Stephens St (previously 1916 SE 50th Ave):

Construct new 4 story 83 unit apartment building with underground parking; associated site work

Design Commission approves 15 story building at 4th & Harrison (images)

The Design Commission has approved a 15-story mixed-use development at 4th & Harrison, after four Design Advice hearings and two Design Review hearings.  The 175’ tall building will provide 424 residential units, with a mix of studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments. At the ground level a 33,000 sq ft supermarket is planned, as well as an additional 5,000 sq ft retail space. 208 vehicular parking spaces are proposed, split between 137 spaces for the residents, and 71 for the supermarket / retail uses. An optional 4th parking level would provide an additional 80 spaces. The building will include 656 long term bicycle parking spaces.

The project is being developed by Chicago based developer Core Spaces. The design architects for the building are Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture of Chicago, with Portland based Myhre Group Architects acting as consulting architects. The landscape design is by Portland based Lango Hansen.

4th & Harrison

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Weekly Roundup: Framework, Park Avenue West, Block 75 Phase II and more

The 12 story Framework building by Lever Architecture, planned for a site as NW 11th & Glisan in the Pearl

The 12 story Framework building by Lever Architecture, planned for a site at NW 10th & Glisan in the Pearl

In an article titled “Wooden Buildings as Strong as Steel” Newsweek wrote about how Portland is leading the nation in the adoption of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT). The article includes quotes from Ben Kaiser of PATH, architect and developer of Carbon12and Thomas Robinson of Lever who is the architect for Framework in the Pearl and Albina Yard.

An article and photo gallery in the Portland Business Journal showed how CLT is made. Riddle-based D.R. Johnson Lumber Co is currently the only domestic lumber mill certified as capable of producing the wood panels.

The Portland Business Journal covered Block 75 Phase IIthe next high-rise building planned for the Burnside Bridgehead. The Works Partnership designed building is the latest partnership between Beam Development and Urban Development + Partners.

The Oregonian noted that a Travel Portland found that hotel prices have soared since 2010. The rising rates have led to a hotel construction boom, as Next Portland covered last year.

Construction is underway on the expansion of the SERA designed NW Portland International HostelIn a story about the project KGW wrote that the hostel is trying “to keep up with the booming tourism in the Rose City”.

The Portland City Council approved a realignment to the route of the proposed extension of SW Bond between the Tilikum Crossing and SW River Parkway. The extension, which will begin construction this year, allows OHSU projects including the Knight Cancer Research Building to move head.

The first residential tenants are moving into Park Avenue Westreported the Portland Business Journal. The TVA Architects designed building is now the fourth tallest building in Portland.

The Portland Development Commission is increasing its contribution to projects in Lents by $6.3 million, according to the Portland Business Journal. The projects include the Asian Health and Services Center by Holst Architecture, Oliver Station by Ankrom Moisan Architects and 9101 SE Foster Rd by Hacker Architects. The developers behind Oliver Station have gained control of the Chevron station at SE 92nd and Foster, enabling the project to occupy the full block.

Commissioner Steve Novick wrote about an idea that is rapidly gaining traction as a way to bring affordability back to Portland’s neighborhoods. “Missing middle housing” is new term for old styles of development, currently prohibited in most of Portland, at a density between that of single family detached houses and large mid-rise apartment buildings. These include housing types such as rowhomes, courtyard apartments, triplexes, built to the same height and scale as single-family homes.

A post at Portland Shoupistas asked if the PDC’s $26 million garage at the Convention Center Hotel  will be a money maker or a money loser. Though planned as  revenue generator, the post points out that “just to break even, this garage will need to generate more than $12 per space every day of every year for 20 years, starting in 2020.”

KOIN reported that “Ivy Island may not be ‘gateway’ to St. Johns for long“. A street vacation in the St Johns neighborhood was approved this week. The vacation will allow the mixed use Union at St Johns building by Jones Architecture to move ahead, while creating a safer road layout.