Weekly Roundup: Porter Hotel, Towne Storage Building, Providence Park, and more

Construction is well underway on the Porter Hotel in Downtown

The Portland Chronicle wrote about the demolition of a 1930 funeral home. The site at 80 NE 14th Ave is being redeveloped as a six-story mixed-use building containing 190 residential units.

Eater PDX reported that Touché Restaurant was set to close this Sunday after 20 years in the Pearl. The historic firehouse that housed the restaurant will be renovated as part of the Modera Glisan development.

The Portland Business Journal reported that software company Autodesk will move 200 employees from Lake Oswego to the Towne Storage Building in the Central Eastside.

The DJC wrote about the massive number of new hotel rooms coming online, including at the AC Hotel, Convention Center Hotel, The Woodlark and The Porter.  If all hotel projects currently proposed get built they “would expand Central Portland’s room count by 35 percent by 2020.”*

The Oregonian reported that the Portland Timbers’ proposed expansion of Providence Park drew City Council support at a hearing held last week.

As Esco Corp. winds down operations in NW Portland The Oregonian reported that its 15 acre site is being prepared for redevelopment.

Portland for Everyone wrote about the eleven bills aimed at tackling housing prices that are still alive in the legislature.

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

Weekly Roundup: Pearl East, 1725 SE Tenino, 5035 NE Sandy and more

The Pearl East Building at NW 13th & Glisan, by Mackenzie

The Pearl East Building at NW 13th & Glisan is currently being reviewed by the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission. According to the DJC the Commission appeared inclined to support the project*, but granted a request by a neighbor to extend the public comment period.

‘Portland For Everyone’ wrote about two buildings in Sellwood-Moreland, at 1707-1725 SE Tenino St and 5965-6003 SE Milwaukie Ave that could be the first buildings to include affordable housing through the Portland’s new Inclusionary Zoning ordinance. Though vested under the old code, the developer is exploring the option of removing the previously required parking spaces and adding affordable units.

The Hollywood Star News wrote about the new development at 5035 NE Sandy Blvd, on the site formerly home to der Rheinlander. The 32,000 sq ft building will include 24,000 square feet leased by Portland Clinic and 6,000 to 8,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail space.

The Willamette Week wrote about how “early signs point to trouble for a record-setting Portland Public Schools bond“. If passed, the $790 bond would include funding to renovate Benson High School and Madison High School, and to raze and rebuild Lincoln High School and Kellogg Middle School.

Oregon Business published images of Portland’s “latest Insta-worthy hotel“, the AC by Marriott.

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

Weekly Roundup: Custom Blocks, AC by Marriott, 4W and more

AC Hotel Portland

The AC by Marriott at SW 3rd & Taylor has opened.

The DJC broke the news* that the 4W tower at 419 SW Washington St is on hold as developer Greystar struggles to gain financing for the project.

The Portland Business Journal wrote about Portland’s latest creative office development: the Custom Blocks at 1340 SE 9th Ave and 925 SE Main St.

Portland Architecture sat down wtih Holst Architecture’s new owners to discuss the firm’s evolution.

The Rose City Park neighborhood association has weighed in on the proposed apartments at 5036 NE Sandy Blvd, reports the Hollywood Star News.

The Portland Chronicle reported that a demolition permit has been issued for the 1965 warehouse with the ‘Machine’ mural at 4018 N Williams Ave. The 5 warehouse will be replaced with a 5 story mixed use building with retail on first floor and 64 residential units above.

In Oregon Business economist Joe Cortright argued that the key to solving Portland’s affordability problems is a greater supply of new units.

KGW reported that the AC by Marriott in Downtown Portland has opened.

*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

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 Hotelwhich 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 Davishowever 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 BlocksRussian 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: Hotels booming, Multifamily cooling, Schools bond and more

129 SE Alder

129 SE Alder is the latest creative office development in the Central Eastside

The Oregonian reported that Portland’s hotel boom—which includes the Cornelius-Woodlark, Canopy Hotel, Porter Hotel, AC Hoteland the Convention Center Hotel—will by 2020 result in 40% more hotel rooms than there are now.

The Willamette Week opined that “Portland City Hall seems to have learned its lesson about parking minimums raising rents” as the City Council struck down a proposal to add parking minimums for new residential development in the Northwest Plan District.

The DJC reported* that the Metro area multifamily market is beginning to cool as “after years of apartment development, supply appears to be starting to make a dent in demand”.

Harsch Investment Properties revealed a new creative office projected planned for 129 SE Alder St (previously 110 SE Washington St) to the Portland Business Journal. The design of the 9 story building is by Works Partnership.

According to The Oregonian, Portland Public Schools will seek voter approval for a $750 million construction bond in November. If passed, the bond would pay for the rebuilds of Lincoln High SchoolMadison High School and Benson High School.

The Portland Business Journal reported that Mill Creek Residential Trust paid Meriwether Partners $13.2 million for the former Premier Press building in the Pearl, a significant increase over the $6.05 million paid for the property in 2014. The transaction will allow the mixed use project at 505 NW 14th Ave to grow larger, at the expense of the now cancelled 1440 Hoyt office development.

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

Focus: Portland’s Tallest Planned Buildings (2016)

Image from the Discussion Draft of the Central City 2035 Plan (Bureau of Planning & Sustainability).

Image from the Discussion Draft of the Central City 2035 Plan, showing a possible development scenario approximating future growth in the Pearl District over 20 years (Bureau of Planning & Sustainability). At least two of the sites shown as potentially developable have current proposals on them.

It is just over a year since Next Portland last did a roundup of the tallest buildings planned or under construction in Portland. At that time, we counted 25 buildings over 100′ in height planned. Today we count 40. Given the length of time it takes to complete a high rise building, many of the buildings on the 2016 were also on the 2015 list. Four buildings are no longer on the list this year, due to having been completed: Block 17, Pearl West, the Aster Tower and Park Avenue West. Seven buildings that were still in the design phase last year are now under construction. No building on last year’s list is known to have been cancelled.

Read on to see our complete list. Where possible, the heights given are the building height as defined in the Portland Zoning Code and published in the Design Commission’s Final Findings. In some cases the heights have been estimated.

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Weekly Roundup: 3rd and Taylor, Clay Creative, Centennial Mills and more

3rd and Taylor

The proposed developed at SW 3rd and Taylor by Ankrom Moisan Architects

Restore Oregon announced that they filed concurrent appeals to the City and to LUBA, arguing that the City erred in removing the Albion Hotel and Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple from the Historic Resource Inventory. The buildings are threatened by the development at 3rd and Taylor.

Online bank Simple will be the anchor tenant for Clay Creativeaccording to a story in the Portland Business Journal. The new space will be “nearly double the size of Simple’s current home and will be able to accommodate 500 people.”

Writing about Framework, the proposed 12 story building in the Pearl, the Portland Mercury looked at how the use of wood in high rise construction could “help solve the city’s affordability problem, create living-wage jobs in rural communities, and help save the planet”

The Portland Business Journal reported that the concrete slab for the AC Hotel by Marriott was poured last weekend. The pour included 1,100 cubic yards of concrete, enough “to cover a football field with a six-inch slab.”

The Daily Journal of Commerce published construction photos of the Burnside Bridgehead Block 75which has now reached its maximum height. The project is scheduled for completion in mid-2016.

The Portland Development Commission has walked away from a deal with Harsch Investment Properties for development on the site of Centennial Mills, determining that it wasn’t financially viable. Partial demolition is currently underway on the long vacant site. The current demolition work will leave the feed and flour mills in place, but with no plan in place for what to do with them a decision will need to be made in the new year whether to also demolish those buildings.

In a piece on Division Street, KGW looked at how it “got so popular and why the growth is causing problems for people who live, work and dine at Portland’s new restaurant row”.

The Portland Chronicle reported that demolition is likely imminent on two single family homes at 1515 SE 44th, which will be replaced by a four-story mixed-use development with 30 residential units facing SE Hawthorne Blvd.

Focus: 20 new hotels proposed for Portland

When construction activity first started to return to Portland around 2012 it seemed like all that was being built was apartments. While residential still dominates the construction industry, other sectors of the market have started to return. In the last year there has been been a noticeable increase in the number of hotels proposed in Portland. Next Portland counts at least 20 hotels either proposed, going through Design Advice / Design Review, being reviewed for building permits or under construction. Together these represent over 3000 new rooms, a substantial number for a city that had 25,924 rooms in its metro area as of 2014.

It is unlikely that every single hotel on this list will be built; some of the Early Assistance application may represent property owners performing a feasibility study, and there is always the possibility of a downturn in the economy. Even still, it’s clear that Portland is going to have a substantially larger number of hotels in just a couple years. Click through to see the full list, arranged by number of rooms.

1 – Hyatt Regency at the Convention Center

Number of rooms: 600+
Architect: Ankrom Moisan Architects, ESG Architects
Status: Design Advice

Hyatt Hotel at the Oregon Convention Center

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Groundbreaking ceremony held for AC Hotel (images)

A ceremonial groundbreaking was held on Wednesday for the AC Hotel, a new hotel in Downtown Portland by SERA Architects and Minneapolis based developer Mortenson. The hotel will operated by Sage Hospitality, and marketed under the Marriott owned brand AC Hotels. The 130’ tall building will include 204 rooms. At the ground floor the hotel will include a bar, lounge, lobby and breakfast room. Meeting rooms, a fitness center and most of the back of house areas are located in a single below grade level.  No on-site parking is proposed, however valet drop will be provided at the curbside.

AC Hotel Portland

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Metro Reports: massive development in the Lloyd District, Hallock & McMillan Building and more

Every week, the Bureau of Development Services publishes lists of early assistance applications, land use reviews and building permits. We publish the highlights.

Holst Architecture have requested Design Advice for a project at 1510 NE Multnomah St, currently the Regal Lloyd 10 cinema and associated surface parking:

A three-building mixed use development containing 980 units of market rate housing, as well as retail and community spaces. Structured parking (873 spaces) included.

Emerick Architects have requested early assistance for an addition to the historic Hallock & McMillan Building at 237 SW Naito Parkway:

2 story, 950 sq ft addition to existing building to provide ADA accessibility & fire & life safety upgrades.

Early assistance has been requested for a drive thru Starbucks at 5810 N Lombard St:

Existing building to be removed. Proposal is for a Starbucks drive-thru. Access to the site is proposed to remain with the existing two driveways.

Scott Edwards Architecture have requested early assistance for a development at 1551 SW Upper Hall St:

New Multi family (3-unit) development.

Ankrom Moisan Architects have scheduled a Pre Application Conference to discuss a project at 1300 NE 16th Ave:

2-story 10-plex independent living apartments with below grade parking located in current parking lot area.

Waterleaf Architecture have scheduled a Pre Application Conference to discuss a project at 1949 SE Division St:

Proposed project is a four story commercial building consisting of one story of ground floor retail space and secured parking below three stories of office space.

Site works Design | Build have scheduled a Pre Application Conference to discuss the renovation of the YMCA at 2815 SW Barbur Blvd for Under Armour:

Renovation of 1977 YMCA – Type 3 DZ

Urban Development Group have submitted a building at 8235 SE 17th Ave for building permit review:

New 4 story wood frame apartment building with underground parking ; basement parking to include new bike storage, trash enclosure, dog wash room, and 3 apartment units;

SERA Architects have applied for the first of the required building permits for the AC by Marriott hotel:

***STR 1 : Excavation and Shoring and structure to grade, under slab plumbing***204 room hotel 3rd and Taylor, 15 story on 1/4 block

In Situ Architecture have applied for building permits for an addition at 3740 SE Haig St:

Addition of 2 stories to existing single story duplex (with unit on main level and one in basement) to create 4 plex, new units are 2 story units, no work at existing units, detached trash enclosure is 20sf

LRS have applied for building permits for an addition to a nursing home at 6125 SW Boundary St:

Renovation of existing 53,000 sf Type V nursing home with a 44,000 sf addition, new parking lot and site improvements

A building permit was issued for a new building at 17 SE 63rd Ave:

New tri-plex on same site as existing 6 unit apartment building