Category Archives: News Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Robert Sacks, Schools Bond, SolTerra, and more

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A potential massing for a rebuilt Lincoln High School, by Bora Architects. Under this option the existing school would remain in operation while a new building is constructed where the football field is currently located.

According to The Oregonian, Portland Public Schools now plans to include complete modernization of three high schools, Lincoln, Benson and Madison, in its May 2017 bond measure.

In the wake of the NW Portland natural gas explosion, the DJC wrote about developer Robert Sacks’ plans to move forward*.  Allied Works Architecture, who designed the damaged building 2281 NW Glisan, are preparing drawings that will allow the building to be rebuild. They are also working on designs for a new three-story building building at 510 NW 23rd Ave to replace the 111-year-old building that was destroyed.

Places Over Time looked at the 2016 works of architecture and urban planning that have “creatively added to the livability, artistry, and longevity of Portland’s built environment“, including Albina Yard, Pearl West and Milwaukie Way.

A 100-bed winter shelter has opened in the Washington Center, reported The Oregonian. The building is currently sitting vacant while developer Greystar and architects ZGF prepares plans for the 4W Tower.

The Portland Chronicle reported that a 106-year-old apartment complex and automotive repair shop at 1335 SE Stark St will be torn down to make way for a four-story, 39-unit apartment complex.

The DJC reported that design-build firm SolTerra has split into two businesses and laid off design professionals.

The Business Tribune asked developers if they would still build housing in PDX under the inclusionary zoning policy.

The Portland Business Journal looked at the 34 most prominent real estate projects to watch in 2017.

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

Weekly Roundup: Portland Building, 2869 NE Sandy, Stagecraft Building, and more

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Rendering of a renovated loggia on SW Madison St at the Portland Building (DLR Group)

In an article titled “Handling a Portland icon with care“* the DJC looked at the approach being taken for the renovation of the Portland Building.

The Willamette Week reported that newly seated Mayor Ted Wheeler has halted further spending of the $258.4 million affordable housing bond, in order to to set “priorities and goals“.

Portland Shoupistas suggested 6 Parking Policy Priorities for Portland in 2017.

Portland Architecture sat down with Thomas Henneberry of ZRZ Realty to discuss the ambitious plans for the Zidell Yards.

Despite initial reports that the building might be relocated, the Portland Mercury reported that Club 21 last day of business would be January 15th. The building will be demolished to make way for the Jantzen Apartments.

The Portland Business Journal reported that Park Avenue West has landed an iconic Oregon tenant, Pendleton Woolen Mills.

According to the Urban Works Blog Design Within Reach has opened its new store in the renovated Stagecraft Building.

The Portland Business Journal reported that Fairfield Residential paid $3.6 million for a five-parcel lot at 2869 NE Sandy Blvd. The are current plans to develop the site with a 206 unit, 6-story apartment building.

OPB’s State of Wonder discussed design, planning and Portland’s new Mayor Ted Wheeler.

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

Metro Reports: 1510 NE Multnomah St Phase II, 3403 N Mississippi, Cathedral Flats, and more

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Site Plan for 1510 NE Multnomah St (Phase II) as presented to the City for the Pre-Application Conference in October 2016

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

Design Advice has been requested by Holst Architects for 1510 NE Multnomah St (Phase II):

Proposal is to develop the existing parking east of Sears and the site currently occupied by Lloyd cinemas into a mixed use community.

The project has also been submitted for Type III Design Review:

Project is for new development on site currently occupied by Lloyd cinemas and the existing parking lot east of Sears into a mixed use community. It will include three “5-over-1” buildings that together contain 520 apartment units. Buildings 1 & 2 share underground parking facility for resident use only.

Early Assistance has been requested by SERA Architects for a project at 2517 SE 82nd Ave:

New affordable housing projet (LIHTC awarded through 2016 OHCS): 4-story transit-oriented mixed-use multi-family residential w/48 low-income units, ground floor commercial, & 18 parking stalls.

A Pre-Application Conference has been scheduled by Ankrom Moisan Architects for the N Williams Center at 2156 N Williams Ave:

Proposal is to demolish 2 existing one story commercial buildings. Build new affordable apartment project, 55′ tall, 5 story, 66 units, 78,000 sf, plus 2 story, 4 units, 5,000 sf with basement bike parking; total 70 units, 83,000 sf, 32 spaces. Exist community service use to remain, thus inst. Dev. Stds, CU.

A Pre-Application Conference has been scheduled by SERA Architects for a project at 2135 NW 29th Ave:

Project will allow development to proceed with residential development prior to change in zoning from EG to R1 and EX. Project also includes a street vacation.

A project at 919 N Cook St has been submitted for a Type II Adjustment review by Works Progress Architecture:

Request is for an adjustment to loading standard for (1) standard a space to (1) standard b space. New core and shell, development of 4-story wood frame construction over a 2-story concrete podium/daylight baement level for workspace. Proposed wholesale or industrial service use on upper levels and proposed retail or office and parking on lower levels. Two stairs and one elevator accesses each floor. Project to be costructed on vacant lot.

A project at 2034 NW 27th Ave has been submitted for a Type III Zoning Map Amendment:

Properties in question are located at 2638 nw wilson st and 2034 nw 27th ave. There are two warehouses on the property both of which will remaiin.The property has been included in the city’s mixed employment zoning project. Applicant wishes to pursue a zone change in compliance with the comp plan that will result in the same zoning designation for the property that the city has already proposed in the ME project.

A project at 3403 N Mississippi Ave has been submitted for building permit review by Holst Architecture:

New 6 story, 214 apartment building with 126 basement & 17 ground level parking stalls and 2400 GSF retail space

A project at 6917 N Charleston Ave has been submitted for building permit review by Crescent Custom Homes:

Construct new 3 story (4) unit apartment building with associated site work. 4.5 ft retaining wall

A project at 3325 SE Division St has been submitted for building permit review by Hacker Architects:

Construct new 4 story, 30 unit apartment building, trash area at main floor of building, includes associated site work

A project at 10734 NE Wygant St has been submitted for building permit review:

Construct new 3 story apartment building; three bedroom flats and townhouse style on top and associated site work as well as 87 sf trash enclosure

A project at 2502 SE 29th Ave has been submitted for building permit review by William Wilson Architects:

New 4-story, 50 unit, apartment building with basement garage and ground floor retail. Stormwater is proposed to be disposed of through stormwater planters at the south property line. Ground floor retail/coffee shop space is shell and restroom only, future tenant improvements under separate permit at a later date.

A project at 4806 SE 16th Ave has been submitted for building permit review:

New construction of four level(three story plus basement) self-storage facility. Scope includes site improvements, parking and landscaping. S1 and B accessory use.

A project at 8045 SE 82nd Ave has been submitted for building permit review:

Construct new 3 story storage facility with 711 storage units, interior trash enclosure on main floor, includes associated site work

A building permit was issued to Studio 3 Architecture for the Cathedral Flats at 7228 N Burlington Ave:

Construct new 2 story (24 unit) apartment building with associated site work

This post originally identified the architects of 2502 SE 29th Ave as Otak. The post has been corrected to indicate that the architects for the project are William Wilson Architects.

Weekly Roundup: 550 SE MLK, Grand Belmont, NAYA Generations, and more

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A mixed use hotel / residential building by Works Progress Architecture at 550 SE MLK recently received Design Advice

The DJC published photos of NAYA Generations, the intergenerational affordable housing project* that’s about to open in Lents at the site of the former Foster Elementary School.

Places over Time wrote about two projects in the Central Eastside, 550 SE MLK Jr Blvd and Grand Belmont; one of which is reviewed by the Design Commission and the other by the Historic Landmarks Commission.

A story in the Oregonian profiled D.R. Johnson, the Douglas County mill that is producing the cross-laminated timber that will be used in a new generation of high rise wood buildings.

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

Weekly Roundup: Legacy Emanuel, The Amy, 38 Davis and more

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The proposed expansion of Legacy Emanuel hospital

The Oregonian reported that the Portland City Council, as expected, unanimously approved an inclusionary zoning program. City Observatory meanwhile noted that Denver, cited as a precedent for Portland, has backed away from inclusionary zoning. The Portland Mercury pointed out that it might take years for the program to generate any new units, due to the large number of project already in the development review pipeline.

Legacy Emanuel Medical Center announced a $210 million expansion, as reported by the Portland Business Journal. Construction is scheduled to begin next year and should take about four years.

Parking fines will rise $5 to pay for the new Multnomah County Central Courthouse, according to the Oregonian.

The Business Tribune looked at The Amy, College Housing Northwest’s proposal to make student housing more affordable.

In “where risk and resilience meet“* the DJC spoke to architect Jay Raskin, who argues that new affordable housing should be built to seismic standards that would allow units to be habitable after an earthquake, and not just to the life safety standard of the state building code.

The Portland Business Journal wrote about how Ankrom Moisan Architects are settling into their new home at 38 Davis in Old Town.

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

Weekly Roundup: Atomic Orchard, Residential Infill, Eagles Lodge, and more

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A potential future for the “Innovation Quadrant”, as envisioned in the Central City 2035 Plan

The DJC wrote about Guerrilla Development’s “weird concept” for the Atomic Orchard Experiment at 2510 NE Sandy Blvd. The apartment building will include a mix of market rate and affordable housing, with some of the affordable units renting for less than $600 per month – without government subsidies.*

With Portland’s parking minimums for multifamily housing effectively repealed, Portland Shoupistas asked “what’s next?”

The Oregonian reported that the Portland City Council voted to approve the Residential Infill Project, which aims to reduce demolitions of single family houses while increasing the number of duplexes and triplexes built.

Portland Architecture discussed the Central City 2035 plan with three planners from the Bureau of Planning & Sustainability.

OPB looked at the toxic legacy of the Zidell Yards—and the efforts to clean the site up.

The Business Tribune wrote about plans to redevelop Chinatown’s Wong Laundry building at 227 NW 3rd Ave, which will have to clear the high bar of City Council approval for the demolition of a contributing building in a historic district.

The Portland Mercury reported that the Eagles Lodge at 4904 SE Hawthorne Blvd may soon be sold, with redevelopment of the site likely.

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

Weekly Roundup: Goat Blocks, 38 Davis, AC by Marriott, and more

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Two new retail tenants have been confirmed for the Goat Blocks development in SE Portland

Two new retail tenants have been confirmed for the Goat Blocks development in SE Portland

The Business Tribune reported on Portland’s latest trend: retail alleys. Recently completed or planned projects mentioned include the Goat Blocks, the Lloyd Cinemas Redevelopment, 38 Davis and Milwaukie Way.

The Portland Business Journal had a first look at the downtown’s AC by Marriott Hotel, which is nearing completion.

The DJC reported that the City Council voted to overturn* a condition of approval imposed on NW 14th & Raleigh by the Design Commission.

Excavation for the Broadway Tower has hit the bottom, according to the Portland Business Journal. The 19 story tower should be complete by September 2018.

Oregon Business took a look at 38 Davis, the Old Town mixed use building that now houses the new headquarters for its designers, Ankrom Moisan Architects.

The Business Tribune reported that Colas Construction has broken ground on Alberta Commons, the Natural Grocers-anchored retail development at NE MLK & Alberta.

Developers are racing to beat Portland’s Inclusionary Zoning policy, reports The Oregonian. The policy is scheduled to take effect in February, however projects that have been submitted for building permit or design review before then would be grandfathered in under the current rules.

Jazz Mecca Jimmy Mak’s will close forever, according to the Willamette Week. The bar was scheduled to move to make way for the Modera Davis, however owner Jim Makarounis’ battle with cancer has forced him to cancel the build out of a new space.

Two new retail tenants have been confirmed for the Goat Blocks: Russian restaurant Kachka, which will open a second location; and Seattle’s Schilling Cider, which will have “more cider taps than any cider house in the United States”.

*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: Fair Haired Dumbell, AIA Portland Awards, PSU School of Business Administration, and more

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Fair Haired Dumbell

The Fair-Haired Dumbell will have a facade painted with a mural by Los Angeles-based artist James Jean

The DJC wrote about the ‘elaborate’ Building Information Modelling (BIM) process* being used to help deliver the PSU School of Business Administration.

The Portland Business Journal reported that the paint scheme has been chosen Fair-Haired Dumbbell building, and “it’s unlike anything else in town“.  They also revealed that co-working company TENpod will occupy 8,000 sq ft in the building.

The Oregonian reported that the Sears building in the Lloyd Center has been sold, and the retailer’s presence in the mall “will either shrink significantly or disappear altogether“.  On Thursday morning, the ice rink at the center of the mall reopened, after a major renovation.

Eater PDX reported that Tom’s First Avenue Bento will close after nearly 25 years, to make way for the Multnomah County Central Courthouse.

The 12-unit Jarrett Street Condos are receiving very little interest from those eligible to receive the city subsidized down-payment assistance, according to The Oregonian.

Portland Architecture wrote about the winning projects at the AIA Portland Architecture Awards. Buildings honored include Slate, 1638 NW Overton St, Framework (CEID), Albina Yard, Karuna at One North, The Cosmopolitan on the Park and Park Avenue West.

Preservation group Restore Oregon announced their top restoration projects of 2016, including the Pine Street Market and the Society Hotel.

The Portland Business Journal showcased the “stellar views and cool workspaces” at Slate.

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

Weekly Roundup: Affordable Housing Bond Measure, Fisk Tire Co Building, 1400 NW Raleigh, and more

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Riverplace Parcel 3, which will include 203 subsidized units in a 14-story tower, plus 176 market-rate apartments

Riverplace Parcel 3, which will include 203 affordable housing units in a 14-story tower and 176 market-rate apartments in an adjacent 6 story building.

Portland voters approved a $258M affordable housing bond measure on Tuesday, that will create at least 1,300 housing units.

The Willamette Week wrote that Mayor-elect Wheeler agrees with outgoing Mayor Hales that it’s time for Portland to end its ban on apartments without parking.

The DJC took a look at* the ongoing renovation of the Fisk Tire Company Building. The Pearl District building was most recently home to retailer Cargo, and is now being converted for use by Room & Board.

The Portland Development Commission is planning on buying three Central Eastside blocks, according to the Portland Business Journal. The acquisition will allow the PDC “to deliver on goals to increase affordable industrial space and district parking.” Last year Bora Architects developed a conceptual plan for the site, which they called Water Avenue Yards.

The Business Tribune wrote about the upcoming AIA Portland Architecture Awards. Winners will be announced at a ceremony held at Revolution Hall, on Thursday November 17th.

Moovel North America will close its Austin office, and consolidate all 116 of its employees into a new headquarters at the Overland Warehouse Company Building in Old Town.

The Oregonian reported that the mixed income development at Riverplace Parcel 3, which was recently submitted for Design Review, will not include a grocery store as originally planned. 

With construction about to begin on 1400 NW Raleigh, the Portland Business Journal reported that the site has been sold for $5.8 million.

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