Architecture and Development in PDX
This week Next Portland had its fifth birthday. Since November 2014 we have published over a thousand posts, many of which are about projects that are now complete or under construction. Today, we wanted to look back at some of the unbuilt projects we’ve written about over the years.
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 Square. Leases 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”.
The St Francis Park apartments by MWA Architects, which are currently working their way through the Design Review process
Every week, the Bureau of Development Services publishes lists of early assistance applications, land use reviews and building permits. We publish the highlights.
ZGF Architects have requested Early Assistance for a parking garage at 500 NE Multnomah St:
New 700 space 6 level parking garage with retail on the first floor.
Rommel Architectural Partnership have requested Early Assistance for a project at 520 SE 82nd Ave:
Proposal is for retail development with new 13,000 sf shop building and 1700 sf drive-thru building with food or beverage use.
SolTerra have submitted The Woods for building permit review:
Construct new 6 story mixed use 50 unit apartment building; main level to include parking garage, bike storage, lobby area, and retail space;
MWA Architects have submitted the St Francis Park Apartments for building permit review:
new 4-story, 72,055 sf, Type VA, 106 unit apartment building including improvements in vacated SE Oak St to meet superblock requirements.
BAMA Design have submitted a project at 2558 SE 109th Ave for building permit review:
New single story 15 bed residential care facility
A building permit was issued to Urban Development Group for a building at 2100 SE Belmont St:
Construct new 4 story 55 unit apartment building with underground parking; associated site work
A building permit was issued to BAMA Design for a project at 7400 SE Milwaukie Ave:
New 4 story 76 unit apartment building with basement level parking garage
A building permit was issued to Mahlum Architects for the International School Expansion:
New construction of three-story classroom building and related site improvements
The Design Commission has approved The Woods, a 6 story mixed use building proposed for the Eliot neighborhood by the sustainably minded design-build company SolTerra. The building will include 50 residential units and over 2,000 sq ft of retail space. Parking for 13 vehicles and 60 bicycles is proposed.
The Woods by SolTerra
The Design Commission has approved The Woods by developer SolTerra, reported the Portland Business Journal. The N Williams Ave project will include 50 residential units and almost 5,000 sq ft of retail space.
The James Beard Public Market has a new executive director. Fred Granum will replace Ron Paul, who has stepped down due to health reasons.
BikePortland wrote about the potential for protected bike lanes on NW Lovejoy and Broadway, which could form a part of the Post Office Redevelopment.
The Portland Chronicle wrote about a 1923 house in Sellwood at 5624 SE 22nd Ave that was recently torn down to make way for a 3 story apartment building with 15 units.
KGW covered a protest by neighbors of a planned apartment building at 2605 NE 7th Ave. The project has received a building permit, and construction will start soon.
The NW Examiner reported [PDF – page 11] that activity on MAC Block 7 is starting up again. The apartment building will require a change to the zoning on the site, because it will include commercial parking for members of the Multnomah Athletic Club.
Portland is falling behind its goals for affordable housing in North and Northeast Portland, according to a City report covered by The Oregonian.
SolTerra Systems have returned in front of the Design Commission with revised designs for the Woods, a proposed 6 story apartment building on N Williams Ave. The project would include 50 residential units, with 1,975 sq ft of retail at the ground floor. Parking for 13 vehicles and 60 bicycles is proposed.
The Woods, a project by Solterra Systems and Design for Occupancy Architecture, has received its first review by the Design Commission. The proposed 6 story building will include 50 residential unit, a 2,151 sq ft retail space on the ground floor and a potential 521 sq ft retail space on the second floor. Stacked parking for 13 vehicles is proposed.
Image from the West Quadrant Plan showing a possible development scenario meeting targets for approximately 20,000 new housing units and 30,000 new jobs.
Our weekly roundup covers the stories relating to architecture & development in Portland:
In a 4-1 vote the City Council approved the West Quadrant Plan which will shape the development Downtown, South Waterfront, the Pearl and Goose Hollow for the next 20 years. The lone no vote was Amanda Fritz, who stated that she was “disgusted” at the way the hearing was conducted.
The public got their first chance to see the PNCA 511 Building when it opened for its first First Thursday event. At Portland Architecture Brian Libby writes about his experience of visiting PNCA’s “transformational new home” now that it’s finished and the students have moved in.
The Portland Mercado has set an opening date of Saturday, April 11. The market will include food cart vendors from regions of Mexico, Colombia, Cuba, Argentina and El Salvador.
After years where South Waterfront was a retail desert, Urban Works Real Estate is now reporting that they are running out of space to offer in the district. They recently announced that have leased the entire 14,000 square feet of retail space at The Ardea.
The Portland Chronicle published photos of the stretch of N Williams / N Vancouver on which the Cook Street Lofts, The Woods and the Cook Street Apartments are all either planned or under construction. They noted that “between the two blocks 360 residential units are in development on property formerly home to three residential dwellings”.
The Oregonian published two articles about the Oregon Square development. The first article focused on the proposed public plaza, and quoted Kyle Anderson of GBD Architects who said that they “definitely see it as being both an amenity and asset to the development, but also a destination.” The second article revealed that that the tower might be the first building in Portland to undergo a peer review of its seismic design, instead of using the prescriptive requirements of the building code.
Chad Rennaker’s Palindrome Communities won the development rights to Lents Town Center Property #1 and Property #2. The Portland Tribune wrote about his plans for Lents, which also includes the Z Haus brewpub and restaurant.