Category Archives: News Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Block 20, Inclusionary Housing, Apartments without Parking, and more

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Pearl Block 20

Construction is about to start on Hoyt Street Properties’ Bora-designed Pearl Block 20 Tower

The Oregonian reported that developer Capstone Partners is quietly pitching new vision for Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, which “would transform the coliseum into a niche music venue and feature mixed-use redevelopment of surface parking lots”,

The DJC wrote that developers concerned about Portland’s proposed Inclusionary Housing program* are putting “forward an alternative proposal that would ramp up adoption of inclusionary housing requirements over several years and offer more generous incentives than the city’s plan”.

According to the Willamette Week  Mayor Hales is proposing to rescind Portland’s ban on apartments without parking, enacted in 2013.

The Oregonian reported Zidell will miss the first deadline for construction in South Waterfront. Under the terms of the 2015 Development Agreement a mixed use project at Zidell Block 1 was due to begin construction by the end of this year, but has yet to move forward.

Newly appointed PDC Director Kimberly Branam has said that the PDC “over-promised and under-delivered” to the poor, the elderly and people of color in North and Northeast Portland.

The November issues of the NW Examiner reported [PDF] that the developers behind the Block 20 tower in the Pearl will use acoustic wrap to reduce noise from the impact-hammer pile driving. The paper also broke the news that the developer behind the redevelopment of the Northrup Market at 1120 NW 21st Ave has walked away from the project.

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

Weekly Roundup: James Beard Public Market, Field Office, 333 SW Park, and more

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Interior view of the James Beard Public Market

Interior view Snøhetta’s design for the James Beard Public Market at the Morrison Bridgehead site

Portland Architecture broke the news that the James Beard Public Market will no longer be built at the Morrison Bridgehead site. The market’s board of directors is now investigating other sites. The Oregonian reported that the Morrison Bridgehead site, formerly owned by Multnomah County, is now owned by MMDC Company.

With work underway on the Field Office , on NW Front Ave, The Oregonian reported that developer Project^ “imagines new neighborhood north of the Pearl“.

In Downtown, Project^ are planning a major renovation of a building at 333 SW Park, which will convert it to creative office space with a ground-floor restaurant. While the project goes through the permitting phase, The DJC reported* that the building will be used as a temporary homeless shelter.*

Site work has begun on the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, according to The Oregonian.

As part of its “Regional Snapshots” series Metro took a look at Portland-area housing costs, and the factors that influence them.

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

Weekly Roundup: 9101 Foster, 1725 SE Tenino, Hotel Chamberlain, and more

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9101 SE Foster

9101 Foster by Hacker

A gas explosion in NW Portland destroyed the 110 year old Wilfred & Gustav Burkhardt Building, and caused significant damage to nearby buildings including Allied Works’ Ann Sacks Residence at 2281 NW Glisan St. The explosion happened after an underground gas pipeline was struck by a subcontractor performing pre-construction work at the site of the future Restoration Hardware.

The DJC wrote about the partnership* between Beam Development and Urban Development + Partners, who first collaborated on the Central Eastside building Slate. Future projects include the adaptive reuse of the Hotel Chamberlain at 509 SE Grand Ave, a 13-story mixed-use development at 550 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, and a mid-rise creative office building at 525 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

Construction finished over the summer at Milwaukie Way, the Westmoreland retail development that wraps around Relish gastropub. The Portland Business Journal took a look at how it turned out.

Eater reported that Catalan restaurant Can Font will open a second location, in the ground floor of the Cosmopolitan on the Park.

The Oregonian reported that modern Mexican restaurant Alto Bajo will open early next year in the Hi Lo Hotel.

The Portland Mercury reported that Sellwood burger restaurant Mike’s Drive-In is likely to be replaced by new apartments. Developer UDG recently requested Early Assistance for a 78 unit residential building at 1725 SE Tenino St.

Portland Architecture discussed the design of Portland Art Museum’s proposed Rothko Pavilion with museum director Brian Ferriso.

The Portland Business Journal reported that a groundbreaking ceremony for 9101 Foster was planned for Sunday. The PDC developed building in Lents Town Center will include 54 apartments–16 of which will be affordable housing–and 9,000 sq ft of retail space.

Kevin Howard of Northwest Self Storage wrote in the Portland Business Journal about the boom and the impending bust of self-storage facilities in Portland.

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

Weekly Roundup: Roosevelt High School, 1500 SW Taylor, OMSI Masterplan, and more

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Roosevelt High School, which is currently in the middle of a major rebuild designed by Bassetti Architects

Roosevelt High School, which is currently in the middle of a major rebuild, to designs by Bassetti Architects

The Portland Business Journal reported that Norweigan-American architecture firm Snøhetta has been selected to develop a masterplan for the 16 acre OMSI campus.

The Portland Chronicle reported that the Holman House in Goose Hollow has been demolished. An 11 story residential development has been submitted for the site at 1500 SW Taylor St.

Construction of the Jantzen Apartments may not mean the end to dive bar Club 21. According to the Portland Mercury the bar might be moving—building and all.

The DJC looked at construction progress at Roosevelt High School, which has stayed open during the $92 million rebuild*.

An opinion piece by the Portland Business Alliance, published in the Portland Tribune, argued in favor of passage of Portland’s $258.4 million affordable housing bond measure.

The Business Tribune that the Cross-Laminated Timber panels that will be used at Framework have passed fire tests.

Portland Architecture looked at what Portland’s next big moves should be.

An analysis of ridership trends for the Portland Streetcar showed that for every new housing unit built, the streetcar gains another rider.

With housing prices growing rapidly, Strong Towns asked “what’s the matter with Portland?”

The Business Tribune looked at what the future might hold for the Zidell Yards in South Waterfront.

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

Weekly Roundup: Rothko Pavilion, Alphabet District Downzoning, 5035 NE Sandy, and more

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Rothko Pavilion

The Portland Art Museum’s Rothko Pavilion

The Oregonian reported on Portland Art Museum’s multimillion-dollar expansion. The Rothko Pavilion will connect the museum’s two existing buildings, which are currently only joined below ground. Places Over Time took a look at Vinci Hamp Architects’ design for the structure.

The Business Tribune wrote about a request by the Northwest District Association to downzone parts of the Alphabet Historic District, which would reduce the amount of housing that could be built in the area. According to the paper it would “kill” plans to build a 160-unit project at 1727 NW Hoyt St, which “would provide 60 years of affordability for seniors making $15,000 or less.”

The DJC wrote about plans by Oregon Democrats to “introduce a package of legislation next year to lift a ban on rent control and provide new protections to tenants facing eviction.” *

The Portland Business Journal wrote about the developers lining “up to back Portland’s affordable housing measure“.

Despite not having an approved design, a ground-breaking ceremony was held for the Multnomah County Central Courthouse, reported the Business Tribune. The building is scheduled to go in front of the Historic Landmarks Commission for approval on October 24th.

Venerable Properties has released details of what will replace Der Rheinlander at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd. A new “multi-specialty health care center” owned by The Portland Clinic will be built on the site, according to the Portland Business Journal.

The Central Eastside’s newest coworking space has opened in Slate, reported the Portland Business Journal. CENTRL Office will occupy 22,000 sq ft of space across two floors of the Burnside Bridgehead building.

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

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.

Weekly Roundup: The Woodlark, 1127 SW Morrison, 5 MLK, and more

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Cornelius-Woodlark

Image of The Woodlark hotel, after renovation

Architect magazine released its top 50 firms of the year, with Portland-based ZGF Architects in the #1 place. Also on the list from Portland was Hacker, at #13. In the design rankings of nationwide firms Works Partnership came in at #5, ZGF at #7 and Hacker at #17.

A single story commercial building at SW 12th & Morrison is about to be demolished, reports the Portland Business Journal. The building will make way for the 1127 SW Morrison office building.

The DJC reported on how “Sellwood growth stirs residents“*. Projects planned or under construction in the neighborhood include Spokane.13, 7119 SE Milwaukie, Galaxie Lofts and Sellwood Bridgehead.

Knot Springs Spa & Fitness has opened in the Burnside Bridgehead tower Yard, according to the Portland Business Journal. The 11,500 sq ft facility “offers monthly memberships as well as services by appointment”.

The Oregonian reported that ‘Top Chef’ finalist Doug Adams will be opening a restaurant named Bullard in The Woodlark, the Downtown hotel that be created in the Hotel Cornelius and Woodlark building. Existing business Johnny Sole, currently located at the site, will close according to the Portland Business Journal.

City Observatory asked if inclusionary zoning in Portland is “a good way to provide more affordable housing, or will it actually worsen the constrained housing supply that’s a big cause of higher rents?”

The Portland Business Journal wrote that the Portland Development Commission has agreed to spend a further $1 million to demolish the feed mill building at Centennial Mills. Current plans still envision the retention of the iconic flour mill.

An investigation by The Oregonian covered how Commissioner Saltzman withdrew the award of city owned land and funding for Meta Housing’s Creators Collective project, and instead gave it to Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc, for their King Parks project.

The Abigail, the latest affordable housing development in the Pearl, had a grand opening on Friday. The 155-unit apartment building includes 128 units for families making between 30 and 60 % of area median family income.

Places over Time wrote about the latest iteration of 5 MLK in “How I Learned to Stop Being and Architect and Design by Committee.”

The Foster Powell blog wrote about the 131 Units of Housing Coming to Foster at 5811 SE Boise, with more on the way at other sites.

The Portland Business Alliance endorsed the city’s affordable housing bond as an “important part of the equation to address housing affordability in Portland,” reports the Portland Business Journal.

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

Weekly Roundup: Press Blocks, The Woodlark, Hyatt House, and more

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Press Blocks

Concept for the full block building at the Press Blocks, by Mithun

The Business Tribune wrote about the Press Blocks, the redevelopment of the former Oregonian Publishing Buildings in Goose Hollow. The project would include two buildings. One building would occupy a full city block and another a half block, and are being designed by Mithun and GBD Architects respectively.

The DJC published photos of the under construction Rivage Apartments, formerly known as Riverscape Lot 8.

The Oregonian wrote about a Chinese group protesting the decision to hang banners in Chinatown with the name “New Chinatown/Japan Town”.  Though listed on the National Register of Historic Places under that name, it is otherwise rarely used.

The Oregonian reported that “outrage surges” as the deadline to put the $750 million Portland Public Schools bond on the November ballot has passed. If passed on the May ballot, which is much likely, the measure would pay for the rebuilds of Lincoln High School, Madison High School and Benson High School. Students at Lincoln High left class to protest the decision not to place the measure on the November ballot.

Portland Architecture interviewed Bora’s Brad Demby about the Cosmopolitan on the Park, the now complete high rise at the north end of the Pearl District.

The Portland Business Journal took a look at The Woodlark, the new Downtown hotel that will open in 2017. The hotel will combine two buildings: the Woodlark Building, most recently used as an office; the Hotel Cornelius, which has long been vacant.

The Hyatt House at Riverplace is now open, reports the Portland Business Journal. The hotel includes 203 extended-stay rooms.

Weekly Roundup: Convention Center Hotel, International School, Schools bond, and more

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Convention Center Hotel

The proposed Hyatt Regency at the Oregon Convention Center

The Business Tribune wrote about “Portland’s new international front porch“—the Convention Center Hotel. The Hyatt Regency branded hotel recently went in front of the Design Commission for its first Design Review hearing.

A change in policy at the Bureau of Development Services means that ranked properties on the city’s Historic Resources Inventory will now be subject to a 120 day demolition delay, even if the property owner requests that it be removed from the Inventory.

The Business Tribune wrote about how advocacy organization Restore Oregon wants to ensure that “we don’t want to lose those things that make Portland Portland” as the city grows.

As thousands of units per year get built in Portland, the DJC looked at how much parking developers are choosing to build. While investors once demanded a 1:1 parking to units ratio, 0.6:1—or less—has become common.

The Business Tribune reported that despite ongoing building boom, “Oregon’s construction industry ranked 47th overall in contribution to state GDP.”

Construction has finished on the International School Expansion, reports the Portland Business Journal. According to the paper the school “kicked off the school year this week with a ribbon cutting ceremony for its new Learners’ Hall, a 10-classroom building for fourth- and fifth-grade students”.

The Willamette Week reported that parents are warning that delays to Portland Public Schools’ $750 million bond could doom it to failure. If passed, the bond would pay for the rebuilds of Lincoln High School, Madison High School and Benson High School.