Architecture and Development in PDX
The Langano Apartments, a project by Works Partnership Architecture, are under construction at 1445 SE Hawthorne Blvd. A building permit was issued in August for a new four story, 30 unit apartment building with retail space on the ground floor. The project replaces Jarra’s Ethiopian Restaurant and the Langano Lounge, which closed in May. The restaurant’s owners, Petros Jarra and Ainalem Sultessa, retain ownership of the development.
The Gariety Apartments, a 4 unit infill project at 1807-1811 SW Market St in Goose Hollow, have been approved [PDF] in a Design Review decision by the Bureau of Development Services.
The project, designed by William Tripp, received strong praise in the notice of decision:
The design review process exists to promote the conservation, enhancement, and continued vitality of areas of the City with special scenic, architectural, or cultural value. The proposal meets the applicable design guidelines and therefore warrants approval. The building responds to the variety of its surroundings with a design that references both older adjacent residences and more contemporary multi-dwelling development nearby. It is responsive to the vital mixed- use transit corridor to the north and helps to implement a neighborhood vision for progressive urban growth within the Goose Hollow Neighborhood. With a differentiation of massing responsive to immediate context, a reinforcing of the pervasive front porch culture, ground floor permeability, and an articulation of facades with grade, the building successfully responds to its varied site constraints and opportunities.
Five letters of objection were received during the Design Review. Complaints included the lack of parking, the contemporary design and overall massing of the building.
The first images of the Grove Hotel project have been published on the website of Surround Architecture. (H/T to urbanlife on SkyscraperPage for finding these.) We reported this morning that the architects have requested a Pre-Application Conference to discuss the renovation of the building facing West Burnside St, and construction of a new 9-story, 63,000 square-foot building to replace the building facing NW 4th Avenue.
After one previous Design Review hearing, the Tess O’Brien Apartments are recommended for approval in a Revised Staff Report [PDF]. The design, by FFA Architecture and Interiors, is for two separate 6 story buildings with a shared courtyard. One building will face NW Overton St, while the other NW Pettygrove St. Together, they will have 126 units. No on-site parking is proposed.
Perspective from NW Overton
The proposed street facing facades are primarily red brick, with fiber cement lap siding accents. The courtyard walls are fiber cement, and the gable walls stucco.
Every week, the Bureau of Development services publishes a list of early assistance applications, land use reviews and building permits. Despite being a three day week, there was a lot of activity in the past week.
GBD have requested Design Advice on the Oregon Square project:
Proposed Oregon Square development – 4 block superblock development on site of the existing Oregon Square block, including 4 apartment towers and a public pedestrian only plaza. Proposing 1030 apartment units, 36000 sf retail, 800 below-grade parking stalls.
SERA have applied for an early assistance meeting for a new project at 4937 SE Division St:
Early Assistance Planner + Service Bureaus, No meeting for proposed 134 unit apartment building with retail at ground level.
YBA Architects have requested a Pre-Application Conference for a project at 1417 NW 20TH Ave, which is part of the Conway masterplan:
New mixed use project including 8 story building with ground floor retail and condominiums and public square.
Surround Architecture have requested a Pre-Application Conference for the Grove Hotel:
Pre-Application Conference to discuss Type III Historic Resource Review for the renovation of an existing 3 story building–the Grove Hotel and the construction of a new 9-story , 63,000 square-foot building (replacing the theatre addition). Both buildings will contain hotel uses with ground-floor retail. The site is within the New Chinatown/Japantown Historic District.
Lastly, a building permit for a project at 4942 NE 7th Ave was applied for:
NEW 12-UNIT, THREE-STORY APARTMENT BUILDING
The Design Commission will offer its advice this week on a renovation and expansion of the Whidden & Lewis Building. The 1897 building is an early work by Whidden & Lewis, a prominent architectural firm who later designed the Multnomah County Courthouse. Since 2000 the building has been owned by Venerable Properties, a developer known for its work on historic buildings, including the White Stag building and Washington High School.
The City Council will this week vote on whether to approve a re-zoning for the MAC Block 7 apartments. (EDIT: the council heard evidence, and decided to continue discussion on January 8th. No vote was taken.) The project is a multi-story building with up to 280 apartments and 420 parking spaces. The change from High Density Multi-Dwelling (RHd) to the Central Commercial (CXd) is required to allow 225 parking spaces to be used as commercial parking for the Multnomah Athletic Club. Commercial parking is not allowed in a residential zone. The project will also include 16 studio apartments for the short term use of MAC members and guests. These are classed as a Retail Sales and Service Use, and are also prohibited in a residential zone. The apartments and associated resident parking would be allowed in either zone. The developer is Mill Creek Residential Trust and the architects are Ankrom Moisan.
Perspective presented during Design Advice in 2013
An expansion of The International School is proposed, according to a Notice of a Pre-Application Conference [PDF] posted on the City website. The independent elementary school located at 025 SW Sherman Street provides Chinese, Spanish and Japanese language immersion.
The Oregonian reported earlier in the year that Hilton planned to open a new hotel in Downtown Portland in 2016, under its new Curio Collection brand. That project is now set to have its first Design Advice hearing on December 4th, prior to submitting the project for a full Type III Design Review. The architects are HC Architecture of Atlanta.
The team behind the proposed AC by Marriott hotel in Downtown have applied for a full Type III Design Review. The 13 story hotel, first announced in August, will have 204 bedrooms, as well as a bar, lounge, lobby and dining room on the first floor. No on-site parking is proposed. The developer is Minneapolis based Mortenson, who are also developing the Convention Center Hotel. The architects are SERA.
