Category Archives: News Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Ankeny Row, Franklin High School, One North and more

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Ankeny Row cohousing

Multnomah County chose the site at the Hawthorne Bridgehead as the site for the future Multnomah County Courthouse.

The Portland Business Journal published photos of the under construction One North development on N Williams Ave.

The Oregonian looked at how the recently completed Ankeny Row incorporates sustainable design into a project designed for retirees looking to downsize.

Running over budget, the Franklin High School Modernization has gone through a $20 million value engineering exercise.

The City intends to buy Block 26 from Hoyt Street Properties for $1.3 million, a price 13% below market value. The Pearl District property will be used for an affordable housing project.

BikePortland looked at the ‘beautiful’ bike parking at the PNCA 511 Building.

With just a few weeks to go until the Hotel Eastlund opens, the Portland Business Journal had a look at the progress.

Weekly Roundup: Goat Blocks, Station Place Lot 5, Multnomah County Courthouse and more

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Station Place Lot 5

Station Place Lot 5

The City Council heard the appeal of Preserve the Pearl LLC against the Design Commission’s decision to approve Block 136. Comments for or against the appeal can be sent to cctestimony@portlandoregon.gov until 5pm on April 15th. The Council will deliberate on April 23rd.

The Portland Development Commission board has voted to sell Station Place Lot 5 to Williams & Dame for $7.4 million. The developers plans to build a 204,000 sq ft office building on the vacant Pearl District land.

Grocery store Market of Choice and hardware store Orchard Supply will be the anchor retail tenants for LOCA @ The Goat Blocks, which is now under construction.

According to a post at The Portland Chronicle, demolition has begun on the Spring Market building on SE Hawthorne Blvd. In its place will be the Hawthorne 31 apartments by TVA Architects and VWR Development.

An article in today’s Oregonian covers OMSI’s desire for housing to be allowed on land it owns in the Central Eastside. The City is currently working on a draft of the SE Quadrant Plan, which will guide the zoning for the area for the next 20 years.

The Post Office Redevelopment could be a ‘golden opportunity for bikeway’, says BikePortland. Work on the  Broadway Corridor Framework Plan, which includes in the USPS site, will begin this year.

The Portland Development Commission has issued a Request for Proposals for Riverplace Parcel 3. Working with the Portland Housing Bureau, they hope to create at least 200 affordable homes on the site.

At Portland Architecture Brian Libby asked whether Portland can grow the right way.

A photo gallery at the Daily Journal of Commerce shows the progress on the Park Avenue West tower.

The Portland Development Commission has reissued a Request for Proposals for NE 106th & Halsey. According to the Portland Business Journal, the PDC is willing to “donate the land at no cost or channel up to $3 million in public funding” to secure the kind of development it wants to see.

A due diligence report [PDF] on the Multnomah County Courthouse was presented to the County board. The two sites currently being considered for the new courthouse are at the Hawthorne Bridgehead, and adjacent to the KOIN tower. No fatal flaw was found for either site, and the site at the Hawthorne Bridgehead remains the preferred site.

Weekly Roundup: Post Office Redevelopment, Portland Rock Gym, Block 26 affordable housing and more

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Modera Pearl apartments

Modera Pearl apartments

The Oregonian reported that the Portland Development Commission is close to striking a deal with ZRZ Realty for redevelopment of the Zidell Yards in South Waterfront.

According to the Mid-County Memo, the first tenants will move into Glisan Commons Phase II on April 15th. The building will be known as Gilman Court.

An expansion of the Portland Rock Gym will add 10,000 sq ft of new climbing terrain. The Portland Business Journal published images of what the finished project will look like.

Talks between the Portland Development Commission and USPS have resumed for the Post Office Redevelopment, which would free 14 acres of land in the Pearl District.

The planned Multnomah County Health Department Headquarters in Old Town will require a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to increase the maximum heights from 75′ to 150′. As reported on page 10 of the Northwest Examiner [PDF] the changes are being opposed by the Pearl District Neighborhood Association.

The Portland Housing Bureau is close to striking a deal to purchase Block 26 from Hoyt Street Properties. This will enable to Bureau to develop another affordable housing project in the Pearl District.

The Portland Mercado opened this week. An article in The Oregonian looked at how the project will provide space and support for Latino business owners.

The Cash & Carry in the Pearl is moving to allow the construction of the Modera Pearl apartments. Work is expected to begin on the new building later this spring or early this summer.

Plaza del Toro, John Gorham’s new test kitchen and private event space in the Plow Works Building, will have a launch party on April 17th.

The Portland Mercury had a look inside the under construction Society Hotel. The new hotel in Old Town will have bunk beds starting at $35-40 a night.

Weekly Roundup: Milwaukie Way, Lyon Court, 107 NE Grand and more

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Milwaukie Way retail

Milwaukie Way retail

The Oregonian continued their series on the rapidly changing Central Eastside. One article looked at Ancient Heritage Dairy, which will soon open in the 626 SE Main building. Another focused on The Redd, the planned food and agriculture incubator project by the Ecotrust.

Construction has started on Milwaukie Way, a retail project designed by Ben Waechter, adjacent to a former funeral home in Westmoreland.

The DJC published construction photos of the Hotel Eastlund, which is set to open in May.

Cup and Bar, a joint cafe and roastery by Trailhead Coffee and Ranger Chocolate, was set to open this week in the newly renovated 107 NE Grand building.

The Portland Business Journal published photos of the under construction Lyon Court retail building at NE Fremont and 24th.

In ‘Simplifying the Curve’ the DJC wrote about the technical challenges in realizing the curved facades at One North.

Weekly Roundup: Japanese Garden, Convention Center Hotel and more

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Japanese Garden Expansion, as proposed in 2011

Japanese Garden Expansion, as proposed in 2011

Our weekly roundup includes stories from the last week relating to architecture & development in Portland.

The Willamette Week reported that Metro has asked state lawmakers to pass a law that would ensure the Convention Center Hotel will be exempt from a public vote.

As part of their ongoing series about the Central Eastside, The Oregonian wrote about the thriving food and drink industry in the rapidly changing area.

The Land Use Board of Appeals upheld [PDF] the City of Portland’s approval of the Conditional Use Permit for the Japanese Garden Expansion. The project will include new buildings by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, with THA Architects acting as the local design firm.

The first images of the proposed Canopy by Hilton in the Pearl District were published by The Oregonian.

Urban Works Real Estate will be handling the leasing for the renovated 1320 Broadway building, formerly home to The Oregonian. On their blog they sneak peek at some of the updates and amenities the Pietro Belluschi designed building will receive.

The Portland Chronicle published photos of the demolition of a house at 1459 SE Ankeny St, where a new five-story mixed-use building is under construction.

Weekly Roundup: Pearl West, Viking Pavilion, 1510 Technology Center and more

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Pearl West

Pearl West will be the new North American headquarters for Wacom

Our weekly roundup covers the stories relating to architecture & development in Portland.

Michael Graves, the architect of the Portland Building, passed away this week at the age of 80.

Wacom announced that they plan to move their North American from Vancouver, WA to the Pearl District. They will occupy three floors and 56,000 sq ft of the under construction Pearl West office building. They will also open a retail store on the ground floor.

The developers behind the James Beard Public Market briefed Multnomah County that they are looking at realigning the Morrison Bridge ramps at Naito.

Noraneko, a new ramen shop, opens today in the Pitman II restaurant building on SE Water Ave.

The state Higher Education Coordinating Commission approved the University of Oregon’s application to start a Master of Science in Sports Product Management. The program will be based in the Block 8L building in Old Town.

OHSU has committed $7.5 million to the $50 million PSU Viking Pavilion and Academic Center, which will allow the project to move ahead.

The Portland Business Journal published photos of the 1510 Technology Center, the former PGE operations facility in the Central Eastside that has been converted into new offices for Viewpoint Construction Software.

Seattle’s Urban Renaissance Group last year bought 1320 S.W. Broadway, the former home of the Oregonian. They plan a multimillion dollar renovation of the Pietro Belluschi designed building.

Weekly Roundup: Oregon Square, Lents Town Center, PNCA and more

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possible development scenario meeting targets for approximately 20,000 new housing units and 30,000 new jobs in the West Quadrant

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.

Weekly Roundup: Riverplace Hyatt House, Hotel Eastlund and more

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Melvin Mark's 2&Taylor, now home to Jama Software

Melvin Mark’s 2&Taylor, now home to Jama Software

  • The Oregonian published the first images of the 14 story tower planned by developer John Carroll for 535 NW 11th Ave. It would occupy a quarter of a block, and contain 98 apartment units.
  • The Portland Business Journal had a look at Jama Software’s new headquarters inside 2&Taylor. The building was formerly the Yamhill Marketplace, and has been extensively remodeled by Hennebery Eddy Architects and Melvin Mark Development.
  • Williams & Dame held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Tuesday for the Riverplace Hyatt House, attended by Charlie Hales and Homer Williams.
  • Restauranteur David Machado will open two new restaurants this spring at the Hotel Eastlund. Altabira will be a “beer-focused American restaurant” located on the roof of the hotel, while Citizen Baker will be a ground-floor bakery and cafe.
  • The Oregonian reported on the various buildings proposed for the Zidell Yards, which include a 113,000 square feet, five stories high office building; a 246,000-square-foot five story office building at 3121 SW Moody Ave; and a six or seven story apartment building at 3201 SW Moody Ave.
  • In ‘Learning for the Future‘ Places over Time looked at the proposed PSU School of Business Administration.

Weekly Roundup: Pine Street Market, Convention Center Hotel and more

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Pine Street Market

The United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Building is being converted into the Pine Street Market.

  • Metro President Tom Hughes warned that a lawsuit against the Convention Center Hotel could jeopardize Portland’s chances of holding an NBA All-Star Game in 2017 or 2018.
  • Eater PDX reported that ChickPeaDX will be one of the first tenants at The Zipper, the under-construction micro restaurant project on NE Sandy Blvd.
  • Park Avenue West has reached its full height. A topping out ceremony was held on Thursday.
  • The long vacant 321 Glisan building in Old Town has been sold to developer Brian Wannamaker. Work to convert the former cold storage building into offices began in 2007, but stalled during the recession.
  • City Commissioner Amanda Fritz issued a memo to Bureau of Development Services staff, saying that the bar should be higher for discretionary land use reviews. Staff should not, she said, ” have to ‘get to yes’ with every project.”
  • The Ecotrust has expanded its plans for a Central Eastside food hub. In addition to The Redd, it has purchased another city block bound by SE 7th Ave, SE Taylor St, SE 8th Ave and SE Salmon St.
  • Restore Oregon, a historic preservation non-profit, is lobbying the state legislature to pass the Revitalize Main Street Act. If passed, the bill would provide a 25% rebate for certified rehabilitation of historic commercial buildings. Portland Architecture discussed the bill and its potential impacts with Peggy Moretti, executive director of Restore Oregon.
  • Saint Cupcake, Tiger Tiger Salon, and Breighela James Boutique will be the first tenants at the Mason Williams on N Williams Ave.
  • The Portland Mercury had a look inside the United Carriage and Baggage Transfer Building, which will be the home of the Pine Street Market.
  • The redevelopment of the Grove Hotel is moving forward. The project is now planned as a 112-room “lifestyle boutique hotel”, with a $25 million budget.

Weekly Roundup: Hassalo on 8th, Spokane 13 and more

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Spokane 13 Apartments

Spokane 13 Apartments

  • Hassalo on Eighth, the Lloyd District superblock development by GBD Architects and American Assets Trust, reached its full height. The names of the three buildings were announced: the Aster Tower; The Elwood; and the Velomor.
  • Also in the Lloyd District, restauranteur David Machado plans to open two new restaurants in the Hotel Eastlund. Altabira City Tavern will be a rooftop restaurant with a beer centric menu, while Citizen Baker will be a bakery, cafe and wine bar.
  • The venue Revolution Hall opened this week in Washington High School, an adaptive reuse of an old high school by SERA Architects and Venerable Properties. Portland Monthly listed  five things you don’t know about Rev Hall. David Greenwald of the Oregonian reviewed the first show, Wild Ones and Alialujah Choir.
  • The Portland Tribune profiled Bob Ball, CEO of development firm Astor Pacific. In it they revealed that his next project will be a four story, 35-unit apartment with corner retail at 901 NW 21st Avenue, near Caffé Mingo.
  • Two retail buildings in Sellwood were demolished to make way for the VWR Development’s Spokane 13 Apartments. The design is by TVA Architects.
  • PHK Development and THA Architecture released details of their proposed 7 story apartment at 2034 NE Multnomah. An adjustment review for the project was approved in December 2014.
  • The Portland Business Journal reported that the PDC has issued an RFI for the Old Fire Station Property at NW 3rd & Glisan. It could potentially be converted into creative office space.
  • Portland Architecture published an interview with Eugene Sandoval of ZGF Architects. Notable projects of his include the Eliot Tower and Twelve West.