Weekly Roundup: Bridgetown, Fern Grove, Langano Apartments and more

Framework

LEVER Architecture’s Framework will be a 12 story tall timber building.

In ‘Death of a Mall Rat‘ the Portland Mercury wrote about the Lloyd Center, which is currently in the middle of a major remodel. As Portland changes, the paper wondered whether the 1960s mall can keep up.

Commissioner Dan Saltzman is proposing a 1% Construction Excise Tax, according to The Oregonian. The City’s ability to impose the tax was made possible by a recent change in Oregon law. The law requires that at least 50% of the revenues from the tax be used for providing affordable housing. Commissioner Saltzman, who oversees the Portland Housing Bureau, wishes to see 100% of the tax dedicated to affordable housing.

In a blog post the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis explained that “housing does filter”. New construction that is that the top end of the market eventually becomes much lower priced relative to the overall housing market.

The Portland Tribune reported that a panel of state economists and housing experts told a State legislative committee that a “confluence of factors — including low supply, high demand, obstructive regulations and lacking infrastructure — is driving up housing prices in the state”.

Portland Shoupistas wondered if the City Council will impose “rent-raising minimum requirements in NW PDX?” A proposal to add parking minimums in the Northwest Plan District was recently rejected by the Planning & Sustainability Commission, however NW neighbors are trying convince the City Council to add them back at a July 6th hearing.

The Oregonian wrote about the ‘Portland for Everyone’ housing coalition, which is “calling on Portland leaders to increase density in single-family residential neighborhoods, strengthen renter protections and put a general obligation bond on November’s ballot that would fund affordable housing.”

The Portland Business Journal wrote that the 12 story timber framed tower Framework (pictured above) is moving forward—and with a deeper level of affordability. The 60 units in the mixed use building were originally planned to be offered to people earning less than 80% of area Median Family Income. The units will now be offered to people earning less than 60% area MFI. The building is set to go before the Design Commission on July 7th.

The Oregonian covered a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which found that the hourly wage needed to afford a two-bedroom apartment in Oregon rose from $16.61 hourly wage in 2015 to $19.38 in 2016.

The Portland Business Journal reported that the office space at the Park Avenue West tower is now nearly all taken. The residential leasing is proceeding more slowly, with only a quarter of the units taken. In a separate interview with the paper TMT Development president Vanessa Sturgeon states that she’s “just fine” with the pace that units are leasing at.

A post at Planetizen asked if Portland has “lost is way”. The article argues that “Oregon’s poster child for livable planning is embroiled in new controversies over destructive growth, skyrocketing prices, and back-room cronyism.”

The Hollywood Star News reported that construction is about to start on the Bridgetown Apartments at the former Red Fig property in Beaumont Village. The project by Ethos Development and Siteworks Design/Build will include 50 residential units and 6,000 sq ft of retail space.

A 33-unit affordable housing complex in East Portland has opened, according to The Oregonian. The Fern Grove apartments at 14232 E Burnside St are set to be affordable to people earning less than 60% of area Median Family Income.

The retail spaces at the Langano Apartments have been leased, according to Urban Works Real Estate. The ground floor of the SE Hawthorne Blvd building will include Poke Mon, a poke bowl restaurant, as well as an M Realty office and Gallery Nucleus, an art gallery featuring a taproom.

The Cook Street Apartments on N Williams Ave have been sold to Boston-based Berkshire Group, for a undisclosed sum. The LRS Architects-designed building includes 206 residential units.

KGW reported that Exhaust Specialties at 700 SE Belmont St will close after 65 years in operation. Though no permits have been filed for the redevelopment of the site, an Early Assistance application was received by the City in February for a new self-storage facility.

Weekly Roundup: Broadway Tower, FrameWork, New Season Woodstock and more

Broadway Tower

The Broadway Tower by GBD Architects

The 98 year old Oregonians Credit Union at 1431 SW Broadway will be razed to make for the 19 story Broadway Tower, reported the Portland Chronicle. The office and hotel building by GBD Architects is going in front of the Design Commission for Design Advice on November 5th.

The Oregonian covered a report by Jones Lang LaSalle that found Portland now has the third lowest office vacancy rate in the nation. In a contrast to previous decades, almost all the new office development “is taking place in the central business district and close-in submarkets” and “‘virtually none’ [is] happening outside the central city.”

Portland plans $67 million more in funding for affordable housing over the next decade, according to The Oregonian. The funding will come from existing Urban Renewal Areas, at the expense of other commitments such as streets and parks.

The blog Wood Skyscrapers published images of Works Partnership’s recently completed FrameWork building at NE 6th and Davis.

The Portland Mercury looked at what Portland will look like in 2025.

As Portland experiences a building boom, BikePortland covered the fact that pedestrians and cyclists are often forced into mixed traffic when passing construction sites.

The New Season Woodstock branch opened this week with a rooftop bar.

The AIA Northwest & Pacific Region recently handed out its annual design awards, with Waechter Architecture, Works Partnership Architecture, and Hacker all winning awards. Among the winning projects was the Langano Apartments by Works Partnership.

Pastaworks will close its SE Hawthorne space, reported Eater PDX, and move into Providore Fine Foods Market on NE Sandy Blvd. According to the article other tenants will include “Flying Fish Co., florist Emerald Petals and Arrosto, Pastaworks’ upcoming rotisserie chicken spot”.

In other food market news, Eater PDX also wrote about Pollo Bravo, the “chicken-centric tapas joint” by John Gorham, set to open in the Pine Street Market. The market is now expected to open late this year or early next year.

Urban Development Group is a planning a 30 unit apartment building at 3701 SE Caruthers St, across the street from what the Portland Chronicle described as a “controversial” building by the same developer.

Three houses owned by Concordia University will be demolished to make way for the Faubion Elementary School Rebuild, according to the Portland Chronicle.

Weekly Roundup: Lents Town Center, Loyal Legion, Langano Apartments and more

Lents Town Center Property #2

Lents Town Center Property #2, including the New Copper Penny site

The Portland Development Commission will vote next week on whether to offer financial support to the three development projects in Lents. The developments include: a development by Palindrome Communities on Lents Town Center Property #2, which will also include the New Copper Penny site; a development by Williams & Dame on  Lents Town Center Property #3 (South); and a third by Asian Health & Services Center Lents Town Center Property #4.

The Loyal Legion, the new bar by ChefStable in the I. O. O. F. Orient Lodge / PPAA Building will open to the public on July 8th. A pre-opening event hosted by Restore Oregon will take place on July 3rd, where guests will receive guided tours of the newly renovated building.

The City Council discussed the zoning map amendment that will allow the Multnomah County Health Department HQ to be up to 150′ tall. A vote will be held next week.

A 6 week old restaurant was named by The Oregonian as its restaurant of the year. Renata recently opened in the former warehouse at 626 SE Main.

The growth scenarios in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan show that Portland is expected to gain 94,000 new apartments between 2010 and 2035, but only 17,000 new single family homes.

The new headquarters for SolTerra Systems at 2422 SE 9th Ave will be the tallest building on the west coast built with insulated concrete forms. Other sustainable features will include a green roof and low flow plumbing fixtures.

The Portland Business Journal published a photo gallery of Park Avenue Westthe downtown skyscraper scheduled for completion in December.

Tenants are now moving into the Langano Apartments, according to the Portland Chronicle. The building is owned by Petros Jarra and Ainalem Sultessa, immigrants who formerly operated Jarra’s Ethiopian Restaurant on the same site.

The Oregonian reported on the new building proposed at 4th & Harrison, which will include 425 apartments targeted to students at PSU. The developer hopes to open the building in 2018.

The East Building at One North is nearly finished. The Daily Journal of Commerce wrote about how the building will serve as a model for sustainability.

Langano Apartments

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.

langano