Category Archives: Broadway Corridor

Weekly Roundup: Meyer Memorial Trust HQ, Adidas Campus Expansion, Old Town heights, and more

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Old Town Chinatown Block 33

An earlier scheme for the redevelopment of Old Town Chinatown Block 33 was presented to the Landmarks Commission in January 2017. The same architecture and development team are now working on a revised proposal that would orient the mass on the western half of the block, where they are seeking an increase in allowable height.

The Oregonian reported that the Adidas Campus Expansion will more than double the size of the company’s North American headquarters.

The Daily Journal of Commerce wrote about the public forum where the three developers* who are vying for the Broadway Corridor Development Opportunity introduced themselves. The Related Companies, Continuum Partners and McWhinney are competing to be chosen as the master developer for the 32-acre site.

Portland City Commissioner Chloe Eudaly reversed her vote on height increases at the waterfront. The change will allow the Riverplace Redevelopment to move forward.

The Oregonian wrote about the debate at City Council over whether heights should be increased on Old Town Chinatown Block 33. 

City Observatory published an open letter on housing affordability to Portland City Commissioner Nick Fish, written by Portland State University Emeritus Professor Ethan Seltzer. An editorial in the Oregonian argued that the Portland City Council needs to reset its compass.

The Oregonian reported on high-rise apartment units rented as hotel rooms, including at The NV, Block 17 and Park Avenue West.

Portland Architecture interviewed GBD Architects’ Kyle Andersen & Phil Beyl about the firm’s 50 LEED projects (and counting).

A guest editorial in the Oregonian, written by Mark Edlen and Denis Hayes, argued that wood skyscrapers are coming and should be built with Forest Stewardship Council certified wood.

The Skanner News broke the news that the Meyer Memorial Trust, the state’s second largest foundation, plans to build a new headquarters at N Vancouver and Tillamook.

The Portland City Council voted to approve a tax break for the developments that voluntarily choose to include affordable housing, writes the Oregonian.

*This article will be unlocked for the rest of this week. After this week it will only be viewable by DJC subscribers.

Weekly Roundup: Grove Hotel, Meier & Frank, Heartline, and more

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Grove Hotel

The renovated and expanded Grove Hotel will open this summer as The Hoxton, Portland.

The Daily Journal of Commerce reported that a proposal at 2275 NW Glisan St, which would replace the building destroyed by the December 2016 gas explosion, was lauded by the Historic Landmarks Commission*.

The Portland Business Journal reported ($) that Japanese retailer Muji will move into a 15,000 sq ft space in the renovated Meier & Frank Building.

Vacation rental management company Vacasa has signed a lease to take all four floors of office space at Heartline, reports the Oregonian. The additional space, across the street from their existing office, will provide space for 300 employees or more.

When it opens this summer the Grove Hotel will be operated by “posh UK hotel brand” Hoxton, reports Portland Monthly.

In rejecting the Fremont Place apartments the Willamette Week argued that the city council is sending dangerous signals, leaving developers “uncertain about the rules for winning approval of projects“. After the decision the paper reported that Pearl District residents are “divided and fractious”, with one neighborhood association member concerned about the impact the decision will have on the redevelopment of Centennial Mills and the Broadway Corridor.

The Oregonian reported on City Council deliberations over whether to revive a property tax break for developers who include affordable housing in their projects. During the hearing City Commissioner Nick Fish doubled down on his argument that “more high-end housing supply doesn’t ease demand”, according to the Willamette Week.

*This article will be unlocked for the rest of this week. After this week it will only be viewable by DJC subscribers.

Weekly Roundup: Fremont Place, Riverplace, Broadway Corridor, and more

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Fremont Place Apartments

The City Council voted down the Fremont Place Apartments over concerns about the width of the Greenway trail

The Portland City Council voted 5-0 to overturn the Design Commission’s approval of the Fremont Place Apartments, the Pearl District apartment building opposed by neighbors. Portland for Everyone asked if it this would create an open season for NIMBY lawsuits. City Observatory argued that Portland doesn’t really want to make housing affordable.

Later that day council voted down a series of zoning amendments that would be necessary for the Kengo Kuma-designed Riverplace Redevelopment to move forward. 

The Portland Tribune noted that the series of denials added up to the rejection of nearly 3,000 new homes.

The Willamette Week reported that three developers made the shortlist for the redevelopment of the post office site in the Pearl District, known as the Broadway Corridor.

Archinect wrote about the dismantling of the “iconic Portland Building‘s postmodern, multicolored facade”.

BikePortland reported on how the University of Portland’s Franz Campus has puts greenway advocates on edge.

Weekly Roundup: Flatiron, Meier & Frank, Riverplace, and more

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Flatiron

Construction is underway on Works Progress Architecture’s Flatiron Building

The DJC published photos of Flatiron, the under construction office building at N Mississippi & Cook whose shape is “reminiscent of the iconic Flatiron Building in New York City“.

Portland Architecture wrote about two proposals for two developments with buildings far taller than currently allowed: Kengo Kuma’s Riverplace Redevelopment; and the William Kaven proposal for the Post Office Redevelopment.

The Oregonian reported that Oregon State University will occupy the second floor of the re-purposed Meier & Frank Building.

The Business Tribune reported that Portland-based ZGF Architects was named the #1 ranked firm for sustainability in the nation by Architect magazine.

Weekly Roundup: Blackburn Building, Post Office Towers, PCC Bond, and more

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A proposal for the Post Office site in the Pearl could include up to 5 million square feet of development

Without waiting for an answer from Amazon, Portland moved forward with a Request for Qualifications aimed at developers interested in the Post Office Site. Shortly afterwards architecture firm William Kaven unveiled designs for two towers of up to 970′ on the Pearl District property, which would rise to a height over twice the 400′ limit recently approved by city council.

The DJC looked at the Albina Vision, a plan for the Rose Quarter which would see it become more than just an entertainment district.*

The Oregonian looked at the OMSI Masterplan, which could be Portland’s next big waterfront development. The paper also revealed that the James Beard Public Market is still looking at the possibility of locating on the site.

Voters approved a $185 million Portland Community College bond, which will be spent on a renovation of its workforce training facility in the Cully and an expansion of the health technology building at its Sylvania campus.

The DJC published construction photos of the Asian Health & Service Center, currently taking shape in Lents.

Central City Concern broke ground on the Blackburn Building, previously known as the Eastside Health Center, at 25 NE 122nd Ave. The building will include housing and medical services, writes the Portland Business Journal.

The Bureau of Development Services is building an $800,000 communications team, reports The Oregonian.

BikePortland reported that Portland Art Museum is getting ready to unveil new plans for the Rothko Pavilion, after facing opposition to an early iteration of the design.

Despite plans for NAYA Generations to provide a place for Native American seniors and foster families to live, the development doesn’t currently house a single foster family, reported the Willamette Week.

The Oregonian reported on the high-end historic buildings that benefit from $8 million a year in tax breaks.

*This article will be unlocked for the rest of this week. After this week it will only be viewable by DJC subscribers.

Weekly Roundup: Jupiter Hotel Expansion, ROSE/APANO Mixed Use, Amazon HQ 2, and more

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A ground breaking ceremony was held for SERA Architects’ ROSE/APANO Affordable Mixed Use Development

The Business Tribune reported on the ground breaking for the ROSE/APANO Affordable Mixed Use Development at SE 82nd & Division. The building will include 48 residential units and commercial space.

Eater Portland reported that Dig A Pony co-owners have announced a new bar inside the Jupiter Hotel Expansion.

The Oregonian looked at Portland’s proposal to Amazon for its second headquarters project. Sites identified as available for development include the Post Office Site and the Ankeny Blocks.

Taller buildings in downtown Portland were called “inevitable” in a KATU report.

The first tenants for the Field Office have been announced, reports The Oregonian. The Children’s Garden and marketing agency Adpearance will move into the development, currently under construction on NW Front Ave.

Weekly Roundup: 72Foster, USPS site, Hampton Inn, and more

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Hampton Inn & Suites

The Pearl District Hampton Inn & Suites, with 243 rooms, is now complete.

The DJC looked at how national brands adopt their brand standards to meet Portland’s design review guidelines,* with the Pearl District Hampton Inn as one example. The Business Tribune looked at how the newly opened hotel intends to serve tourists and business travelers alike.

City Observatory analyzed Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning ordinance, which so far appears ‘to be creating incentives for developers to ‘go small’.”

According to the Portland Tribune the Post Office Site will be offered to Amazon as a potential location for its second headquarters.

The Business Tribune reported that REACH Community Development’s 72Foster affordable housing development has broken ground.

The DJC published photos of the completed PSU Karl Miller Center.

*This article will be unlocked for the rest of this week. After this week it will only be viewable by DJC subscribers.

Weekly Roundup: Parking Minimums, Post Office, ITAP, and more

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Conceptual image of the Post Office Redevelopment, from the 2015 Broadway Corridor Framework Plan

Conceptual image of the Post Office Redevelopment, from the 2015 Broadway Corridor Framework Plan

A little more than 3 years after the Portland City Council added minimum parking requirements for new apartment buildings, it has voted to remove them, reports the Portland Mercury.

The Post Office site in the Pearl has formally been handed over to the Portland Development Commission, writes the Business Tribune. Development on the site could begin in two years.

According to a report seen by the Oregonian, major problems with the Bureau of Development Services’ paperless permitting system ITAP were “enabled by ‘significant gaps’ in leadership.”

Walker Macy has presented the interim findings for the Design Overlay Zone Assessment Report, writes the Business Tribune.

The buyer of the Macy’s space at the Meier & Frank Building has confirmed their plans to the Portland Business Journal:  ground floor retail with creative office space above.

The DJC published photos of the completed Burnside Bridgehead building Slate.

Construction Dive wrote about The Amy, the 141 unit student-oriented affordable housing now under construction in SW Portland.

Weekly Roundup: 38 Davis, two buildings on NE Sandy, 121 SE 146th, and more

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The 154 new affordable housing units planned at 121 SE 146th Ave

The 154 new affordable housing units planned at 121 SE 146th Ave

Portland Shoupistas asked if it is time for Portland to eliminate minimum parking requirements, following recommendations from the White House on how to reduce barriers to housing development .

The DJC wrote about how Ankrom Moisan is rethinking the architecture office*, as they get ready to move into their new home at 38 Davis in Old Town.

The Business Tribune looked at Clay Creative, the new Central Eastside offices on the site of old Taylor Electric building that are now home to online bank Simple.

As Zidell Marine gets works on its last barge, Portland Architecture discussed Portland’s transforming waterfront and wondered if the “gold-hued gantry crane” could be retained as part of future development on the Zidell Yards. BikePortland looked into whether the end of barge building could accelerate the schedule for completion of the South Waterfront Greenway path. The Oregonian discovered that “Portland housing officials learned this week how much it’ll cost to buy land from the Zidell family to build affordable housing“–but won’t say yet.

KOIN reported that after 53 years Der Rheinlander restaurant at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd will close in 2017. The property has been bought by developer Venerable Properties.

Directly across the street, at 5036 NE Sandy Blvd, a 6 story apartment building is planned on the site currently occupied by Taco Time, writes the Hollywood Star News.

At Portland Monthly Randy Gragg wrote that is “growing like never before”, and asked “what should we do next?”

The Portland Business Journal wrote about the 154 new affordable housing units planned at 121 SE 146th Ave by Home First Development.

A lengthy piece in the Willamette Week looked at affordable housing, and how “City officials have paid little attention to delivering the most housing for the money spent“.

With demolition underway at 1127 SW Morrison St ghost signs were revealed on an adjacent building, for the first time in 93 years. Restore Oregon tracked down newspaper ads for each of the businesses.

The Portland Business Journal showed images PSU students’ $1.3B idea for the Post Office Redevelopment .

*This article will be unlocked for the rest of this week. After this week it will only be viewable by DJC subscribers.

Weekly Roundup: Jantzen Apartments, Zidell Marine, Eastside Health Center, and more

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Eastside Health Center

The Eastside Health Center at 122nd and Burnside

After Portland-based ZGF Architects were named the nation’s top firm, Portland Architecture profiled the firm and looked at how it achieved the title.

Walls of the City looked at whether mid rise buildings can be family friendly.

With the Pearl District Post Office now in PDC ownership, Portland Monthly reported on the PSU students who are coming up with ideas for the future of the site.

After more than 50 years of building barges in South Waterfront, Zidell Marine is now building its last barge. The firm will now concentrated on the redevelopment of the Zidell Yards. Last year Design Advice was offered for office building on Zidell Blocks 4 and 6, although neither building has moved forward since then.

The Business Tribune reported on the “lightened up” iteration of Modera Davis, which was recently approved by the Design Commission.

OPB’s ‘State of Wonder’ covered the wood framed Albina Yard, the recently completed North Portland office building that is the first building to use domestically fabricated structural CLT panels.

The Portland Business Journal reported on the 6 Portland health organizations that have pledged $21.5M for low-income housing projects. The money will help fund three projects, in partnership with Central City Concern: the Eastside Health Center at  NE 122nd and Burnside; the Stark Street Apartments at 12647 S.E. Stark St; and the Interstate Apartments at 6905 N. Interstate Ave. The paper also provided renderings of the three projects.

The Business Tribune looked at the Jantzen Apartments, which recently went before the Design Commission for its first hearing.

The DJC published photos of the demolition of a single story building in downtown, which is set to be replaced by the new office building at 1127 SW Morrison St.