News Roundup: Moda Center, James Beard Public Market, 1847 Food Park, and more

A concept rendering of the proposed exterior upgrades to the Moda Center.

State leaders unveiled a bill that would fund renovations to the Moda Center “in order to keep the Portland Trail Blazers in the state for decades to come”, reports OPB. The www.newmodacenter.com/ website was launched to sell the vision. The Oregonian reported that Governor Kotek lobbied NBA commissioner to keep Trail Blazers in Portland, while the team and county remained at odds over arena funding.

While the opening of the James Beard Public Market has been delayed to 2027, the project has been submitted to the city for design review. The Oregonian took a look at the proposed “timber-rich exterior design“.

Downtown Portland foot traffic continues its “slow but steady climb“.

The Lloyd Center Master Plan went in front of the Design Commission for approval. KOIN showcased the renderings of what could replace the mall, set to close later this year. At the hearing, businesses and patrons expressed their frustration, as reported by KGW.

The NW Examiner reported on the lack of progress and apparent diversion of SDC funds for the long promised Slabtown Park. District 4 Councilor Green called the delay an “outrage”. KATU reported on renewed hope after a Zoom meeting between the Northwest District Association and Portland Parks and Recreation.

TriMet plans to purchase the former Greyhound Terminal in Old Town, according to Bike Portland.

KGW revealed that ChefStable was selected by Prosper Portland as operator of a proposed $7.5M, 12-cart pod and bar at the 910 Building, near Oregon Convention Center.

Plans for the North Park Blocks Extension were scrutinized by the Design Commission, according to the Daily Journal of Commerce.

The Columbian covered the approval by the Vancouver City Council of changes to the Vancouver Waterfront Gateway plan. The previous plan was judged no longer feasible in this market; the revised plan would eliminate the office component and a public plaza, while having more housing, including more affordable housing.

Willamette Week covered a consultant report said that Portland cannot support two Broadway capable venues, and instead of a refurbishment of the existing Keller Auditorium the city should move forward with PSU Performing Arts Center proposal.

A once-toxic industrial McCormick & Baxter site in N Portland could become the Portland Botanical Gardens, writes the Oregonian.

Bridgetown Bites had photos and coverage of the now-open 1847 Food Park in Downtown Milwaukie, anchored by the latest location of Migration Brewing.

A drive-thru has been approved for a long-stalled rebuild of the Dairy Queen on SE Division, reports the Daily Journal of Commerce.

The Portland Housing Bureau now says roughly $106M in housing funds went unspent, according to OPB.

Weekly Roundup: Block 216, Blackburn Building, Tree Farm, and more

Portland Architecture talked to Ben Carr of Brett Schulz Architect, whose projects include the under construction Tree Farm building.

The developer of Block 216 announced that they have secured a $460 million construction loan. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on Friday, with completion of the tower set for 2023.

The Oregonian looked at Portland’s biggest construction projects right now.

The Oregonian reported that lawmakers are pumping cash into the James Beard Public Market, at a time that its backers say it will be “dead in a matter of months unless substantial progress is made”.

Central City Concern’s Blackburn Building opened its doors last week. The building includes a clinic, pharmacy and beds for 175 Portlanders, reports the Portland Tribune.

Portland Architecture talked to Ben Carr, a project architect at Brett Schulz Architect, about the firm’s evolution, and collaborations with Guerrilla Development.

The Portland Housing Bureau’s development at 3000 SE Powell Blvd went in front of the Design Commission for a second time. The Daily Journal of Commerce reported that Commissioner’s hoped that the project could create a new context along Powell Blvd*.

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

Weekly Roundup: Blackburn Building, Post Office Towers, PCC Bond, and more

A proposal for the Post Office site in the Pearl could include up to 5 million square feet of development

Without waiting for an answer from Amazon, Portland moved forward with a Request for Qualifications aimed at developers interested in the Post Office Site. Shortly afterwards architecture firm William Kaven unveiled designs for two towers of up to 970′ on the Pearl District propertywhich would rise to a height over twice the 400′ limit recently approved by city council.

The DJC looked at the Albina Vision, a plan for the Rose Quarter which would see it become more than just an entertainment district.*

The Oregonian looked at the OMSI Masterplan, which could be Portland’s next big waterfront development. The paper also revealed that the James Beard Public Market is still looking at the possibility of locating on the site.

Voters approved a $185 million Portland Community College bond, which will be spent on a renovation of its workforce training facility in the Cully and an expansion of the health technology building at its Sylvania campus.

The DJC published construction photos of the Asian Health & Service Center, currently taking shape in Lents.

Central City Concern broke ground on the Blackburn Building, previously known as the Eastside Health Center, at 25 NE 122nd Ave. The building will include housing and medical services, writes the Portland Business Journal.

The Bureau of Development Services is building an $800,000 communications team, reports The Oregonian.

BikePortland reported that Portland Art Museum is getting ready to unveil new plans for the Rothko Pavilion, after facing opposition to an early iteration of the design.

Despite plans for NAYA Generations to provide a place for Native American seniors and foster families to live, the development doesn’t currently house a single foster family, reported the Willamette Week.

The Oregonian reported on the high-end historic buildings that benefit from $8 million a year in tax breaks.

*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

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 Courthouseaccording 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: 12th & Morrison office, Grant High Modernization, the Truman Apartments and more

1139 SW Morrison by Design Department and LRS Architects

1139 SW Morrison by Design Department and LRS Architects

The Portland Business Journal took a first look at the 6 story office building planned by Menashie Properties for a site at 1139 SW Morrison. The building is being designed by Design Department and LRS Architects.

Construction is underway on the PSU School of Business Administration.  The Daily Journal of Commerce published photos of the work underway.

The Oregonian published 5 takeaways from Portland’s plan for next 20 years of growth.

Portland Architecture interviewed the architects and developer behind the development at 3rd and Taylor, which threatens the Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple and the Hotel Albion.

The Oregonian reported on the new 20 story condo tower planned for Block 20 of the Hoyt Street Yards in the Pearl. The building would have 150 residential units and 190 parking spaces.

The James Beard Public Market is set to close on the deal to acquire the land at the west end of the Morrison Bridge, according to The Oregonian. The current schedule envisions the market opening to the public in 2020.

Design work has begun on the Grant High School Modernization, one of the projects funded as part of the $482 million bond passed in 2012. Grant Magazine published the first conceptual drawings of what the rebuilt school will look like.

The Portland Chronicle published images of The Truman apartments at SE 44th and Hawthorne. Construction on the 30 unit building is due to begin in early 2016.

Weekly Roundup: The Woods, MAC Block 7, Post Office Redevelopment and more

The Woods by SolTerra

The Woods by SolTerra

The Design Commission has approved The Woods by developer SolTerra, reported the Portland Business Journal. The N Williams Ave project will include 50 residential units and almost 5,000 sq ft of retail space.

The James Beard Public Market has a new executive director. Fred Granum will replace Ron Paul, who has stepped down due to health reasons.

BikePortland wrote about the potential for protected bike lanes on NW Lovejoy and Broadway, which could form a part of the Post Office Redevelopment.

The Portland Chronicle wrote about a 1923 house in Sellwood at 5624 SE 22nd Ave that was recently torn down to make way for a 3 story apartment building with 15 units.

KGW covered a protest by neighbors of a planned apartment building at 2605 NE 7th Ave. The project has received a building permit, and construction will start soon.

The NW Examiner reported [PDF – page 11] that activity on MAC Block 7 is starting up again. The apartment building will require a change to the zoning on the site, because it will include commercial parking for members of the Multnomah Athletic Club.

Portland is falling behind its goals for affordable housing in North and Northeast Portland, according to a City report covered by The Oregonian.

Weekly Roundup: Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum, Multnomah Village apartments, The Redd and more

7707 SW Capital Highway

7707 SW Capital Highway

Multnomah Village residents are attempting to block a planned apartment building at 7707 SW Capitol Highway. The building will include 70 market rate apartments, two retail units, and between 43 and 60 parking stalls.

The Portland Business Journal wrote about plans for the adaptive reuse of the Stagecraft Buildingone of the last remaining buildings in the Pearl suitable for conversion.

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Monday for the Japanese Garden Expansion, with architect Kengo Kuma in attendance from Japan.

The first phase of the Ecotrust’s Redd on Salmon St food hub is now open and ready for tenants. The project will consist of two buildings: Marble and Foundry. Work on the Foundry building is expected to be completed in late 2016.

The Pine Street Market, which is due to open late this year, was named as one of American’s 17 Most Anticipated Food Halls by Eater. It was joined on the list by the James Beard Public Market, currently scheduled to open in 2018.

A study of Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum has come up with five options for how the structure could be renovated. These range for minor upgrades to address maintenance needs, to creating an indoor track and field facility.

A profile of developer/architect Ben Kaiser at Oregon Business looked at his ideas for how to deal with earthquakes, in both new and existing buildings. Work on the Radiator at One North, designed by Kaiser’s practice PATH Architecture, was recently completed.

United Way of the Columbia-Willamette has sold a downtown parking lot, reported the Portland Business Journal. The non profit is still considering its options for its headquarters at 619 SW 11thhowever at a recent Pre-Application Conference plans for a 15 story hotel were discussed.

A commercial structure at 8235 SE 17th Ave has been demolished, reported the Portland Chronicle. A building permit is under review for a new apartment building on the site, by developer Urban Development Group.

Weekly Roundup: James Beard Public Market, OHSU and more

James Beard Public Market

James Beard Public Market

Designs for the James Beard Public Market were released by Snøhetta. Portland Architecture provided extensive coverage of the announcement, where Snøhetta founding partner Craig Dykers spoke about how they arrived at the design.

OHSU has raised the $500 million match needed to gift from Phil Knight. The money will help the university move ahead with the Center for Health & Healing South and the Knight Cancer Research Building.

Also at OHSU, Portland Monthly had a look at the soon to open Treehouse Apartments by Lever Architecture. The apartments are a rare residential development on Marquam Hill.

The Portland City Council approved a ‘make or break’ deal with ZRZ Realty that will spur development on the Zidell Yards.

Upcoming micro restaurant spot The Zipper has lined up another tenant: Paydirt, a new bar by the people behind The Old Gold.

Creative agency Swift has signed a lease for 30,000 sq ft of office space at the under construction 1638 NW Overton building.

The City is considering whether developers should be able to receive extra density for affordable housing.

 

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

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: Multnomah County Courthouse, Revolution Hall and more

Block 136

Block 136

  • Block 136, the Tess O’Brien Apartments and the Lloyd Center Remodel were due before the Design Commission on Thursday.
  • In a 4-1 decision, the City Council voted to reject the proposal to demolish a building at 1727 NW Hoyt.
  • In ‘Stark Changes‘ and ‘A New Old Town II‘ Places over Time wrote about the St Francis Park Apartments and Block 8L respectively.
  • The Portland Mercury reported that Revolution Hall, the music venue inside the newly renovated Washington High School, has announced its first shows.
  • Portland Architecture wrote about the design forum for the James Beard Public Market, in which the team from Snøhetta met with various groups, including University of Oregon students.
  • The Oregonian reported that Multnomah County voted to choose “an L-shaped lot at the west end of the Hawthorne Bridge” as its preferred site for a new courthouse.
  • The Portland Chronicle published photos of the demolition of a 1947 warehouse located at 1916 SE 50th. Though no construction permits have been filed yet, the blog speculates that it will become multifamily housing, given that the property is owned by Urban Development Group.