Weekly Roundup: Workshop Blocks, Broadway Tower, Social Distancing, and more

Workshop Blocks
Block A of the Workshop Blocks, on the left, will be the first of three buildings planned for the vacant lots on SE Water Ave.

Beam Development is moving forward with the Workshop Blocks (formerly known as the ODOT Blocks), reports the Daily Journal of Commerce. Last week the board of Prosper Portland, who own the site, voted to authorize a 99-year ground lease*. Beam plans to build 100,000 sq ft of industrial office space on Block A, which will be first of three buildings planned.

The Business Tribune reported on how construction workers are grappling with social distancing.

Portland Architecture spoke to Emerick Architects, who recently celebrated 20 years in practice.

The office portion of the Broadway Tower was sold by its developer, BPM Real Estate, reports the Business Tribune.

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

Focus: The 25 Most Popular Posts of 2018

Block 216

The 35-story Block 216 tower was approved in December. Our post about the project’s Design Advice Request was our most popular post of the year.

Happy New Year.

2018 is the fourth full year Next Portland has been in operation and I’m excited to see what 2019 brings. I’m currently on vacation in Scotland, so new posts will continue to be sporadic until I return next week.

Last year was another busy year for the site. Of the course of the year 141 new posts were published, with nearly 900,000 page views.

The year started with the last of the pre-inclusionary zoning (IZ) projects working their way through the design review process. In February it was reported by the Portland Mercury that Portland’s inclusionary zoning mandate was getting lackluster results, with only 12 qualifying building in the pipeline.

By the end of the year Next Portland had posted about a number of large post-IZ developments that have been approved through design review. These include 815 W Burnside, 1715 SW Salmon, Nomad, the ART Tower Block 216, 1935 N Killingsworth and the Pepsi Blocks. The Portland Housing Bureau now estimates that there are 43 projects subject to inclusionary zoning in the pipeline, with 362 affordable units in projects that have permits or are close to permitting.

Despite the uptick in post-IZ proposals, new design review and building permit applications remain down relative to years ago. At the end of the year the Bureau of Development Services was forced to lay off staff for the first time since the recession, citing “quite sobering” forecasts.

Similarly to 2017, many of the most popular posts were published in previous years, a reflection of the fact that the content Next Portland remains relevant for a long time, as buildings move through construction and into occupancy. One post in the top 25 most popular posts was from 2015; seven posts were from 2016; six posts were from 2017; and eleven were published in 2018.

In reverse order, here are our 25 most popular posts of the year:

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Weekly Roundup: ART Tower, Muji at Meier & Frank, The Hoxton, and more

The ART is the first high-rise building to be approved that is subject to Inclusionary Housing. The tower will include 314 units in its 21 floors.

The Design Commission last week approved the ART Tower, which will be located on the northern half of the Artists Repertory Theatre block in Goose Hollow. The Daily Journal of Commerce reports that there were “rave reviews for ‘a very distinguished building’.”*

The Hoxton hotel last week opened in the renovated and expanded Grove Hotel. The Portland Business Journal took a first look inside.

The Oregonian looked inside the Radisson Red hotel, which opened last week in the Broadway Tower.

The Daily Journal of Commerce published photos of Japanese retailer MUJI’s space in the renovated Meier & Frank Building.

OPB wrote about how the Albina Vision is hoping to bring big changes to the Portland Public Schools site in the Rose Quarter.

Having now been approved by the voters, Metro’s housing bond program is set to launch in summer, reports the Oregonian.

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

Weekly Roundup: Metro Housing Bond, Multnomah County Courthouse, Beatrice Morrow, and more

Multnomah County Central Courthouse

The new Multnomah County Central Courthouse has now reached its full height of 325′.

The Oregonian reported that voters approved a $652.8 million bond for affordable housing in the Portland metro area and a constitutional amendment which will allow funds to be leveraged with private money and federal tax credits.

The Daily Journal of Commerce reported on the demolition* of one of the old Oregonian publishing buildings, which is making way for Canvas at the Press Blocks.

The Oregonian took a look inside one of the units at The Carson in Slabtown.

The last structural beam has been lifted to the top of the new Multnomah County Central Courthouse, reports the Oregonian.

The Beatrice Morrow, an affordable housing development targeted to displaced residents of NE Portland, has opened on NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd.

The Portland Diamond Project has withdrawn their offer for the Portland Public Schools Site, to clear the way for the Albina Vision. The group says they will announce a preferred location for an MLB stadium site by end of the month.

Eater Portland took a look at the menus for the Radisson Red’s Ouibar and Kitchen, which will be located in the Broadway Tower.

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

Weekly Roundup: KEX Portland, Hoxton Hotel, Broadway Tower, and more

The KEX Portland will be located in the historic Vivian Apartments at 110 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. A building permit for the addition, seismic upgrade and change of occupancy is currently under review.

Eater Portland reports that the KEX Portland hostel at will include a restaurant, bar, and rooftop patio bar run by Iceland’s Ólafur Ágústsson, the food and beverage director Iceland’s only Michelin-starred restaurant.

Submarine Hospitality, owners of Ava Gene’s and Tusk, will open a new restaurant and two bars in The Hoxton Hotel (formerly known as the Grove Hotel).

The Daily Journal of Commerce wrote about the Portland Housing Bureau latest rules for affordable housing in condominium developments*, which have been revised from an initial draft that received strong criticism from developers.

The Radisson Red hotel in the Broadway Tower will open in November, reports the Oregonian.

Portland Art Museum director Brian Ferriso and Hennebery Eddy co-founder Tim Eddy spoke to Portland Architecture about the latest designs for the Portland Art Museum Rothko Pavilion.

The Portland Housing Bureau will use housing bond funds to buy, tear down and replace the Westwind Apartments at 333 NW 6th Ave, reports the Oregonian.

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

Weekly Roundup: Bob Frasca, George Besaw Apartments and the Broadway Tower

George Besaw Apartments

Pine State Biscuits is moving into Northwest, with a lease signed at the George Besaw Apartments

Bob Frasca of ZGF Architects, who “helped define Portland’s skyline“, passed away at the age of 84.

Eater Portland reported that Pine State Biscuits, Life of Pie Pizza and Moberi will be moving into the George Besaw Apartmentscurrently under construction on the site that was formerly home to Besaw’s Restaurant.

According to the Portland Business Journal Amazon will nearly double its current Portland footprint by taking 85,000 sq ft in the Broadway Tower.

Focus: 33 Affordable Housing Developments Planned for Portland (images)

St Francis Park Apartments

The St Francis Park Apartments, currently under construction in the Central Eastside.

Last December the Portland Housing Bureau delivered its second annual State of Housing Report to the City Council. The report noted the many challenges facing Portland, including that in 2016 “data indicates that housing affordability in Portland in the last year has gotten worse, an issue that is disproportionately impacting low-income residents, Communities of Color, seniors, and individuals with disabilities”. Nonetheless, the report also looked at what the Bureau is doing to address these issues, including: gaining voter-approval of a $258 million Affordable Housing Bond; passage of an Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance; increasing urban renewal funding dedicated to affordable rental housing; and dedicating short-term rental revenue tax to affordable rental housing.

The report listed nearly 1,900 affordable housing units in the production pipeline, split between 33 developments. Next Portland is re-publishing the entire list, along with images and information about the architect / developer where we have it.

Some buildings on the list are exclusively reserved for lower income people, while others include a mix of market rate units and subsidized affordable units. Figures for levels of affordability, expressed as number of units reserved for individuals or families at a percentage of Area Median Income (AMI), are taken from the Housing Bureau Report. Buildings that include market units are only receiving city funding towards the affordable units. Note that this list does not contain any buildings which will be required to provide affordable housing as part of the newly passed Inclusionary Zoning Ordinance (which came into effect this month); any future projects funded through the voter approved affordable housing bond; any developments that are funded without the help of the Portland Housing Bureau; or any developments that have been allocated funding since the publication of the report late last year.

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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.

Under Construction: Broadway Tower (images)

This is an updated version of an article originally published on April 22nd 2016.

Construction is underway on the Broadway Tower, a new mixed use building by GBD Architects for developer BPM Real Estate Group. The 254′-3″ tower will include 180 hotel rooms, located on floors 3 to 8, which will be operated under the Radisson RED brand. 175,000 sq ft of office space will be located on floors 9 to 19. The ground floor will include the hotel and office lobbies, as well as the hotel restaurant and a single retail space. Hotel amenities, including a lounge, conference rooms and fitness room, will be located on the second floor. Four levels of below grade parking will provide space for 210 vehicles and 132 bicycles. At the 17th, 18th and 19th floors exterior decks will be provided for the use of office tenants. The largest of these, at the 18th floor, will include landscaping and will face onto the South Park Blocks.

Broadway Tower

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Metro Reports: Station Place Lot 5, 72Foster, 1500 SW Taylor, and more

Station Place Lot 5

A building permit was issued for Station Place Lot 5 by Hacker architects

Every week, the Bureau of Development Services publishes lists of Early Assistance applications, Land Use Reviews and Building Permits processed in the previous week. We publish the highlights.

SERA Architects have requested Design Advice for a project at 1500 SW Taylor St:

Design Advice Request for a Type III Design Review for the construction of a new 10-story mixed-use building with some ground-level retail and residential development, approximately 150 residential units. The project will include two-levels of below-grade parking. See parent folder (PC 16-175812).

Early Assistance has been requested by William Wilson Architects for a project at 310 SE 12th Ave:

Proposal is for new four-story 84 unit apartment building with basement.

Early Assistance has been requested by Ankrom Moisan Architects for the N Williams Center at 2156 N Williams Ave:

Demo existing buildings and develop a new 4 story 61 unit apartment building with 30 parking spaces

Early Assistance has been requested by Wright Architecture for a project at 6804 N Maryland Ave:

New 3 Story 6 unit development with property to be divided; Questions regarding feasibility.

Early Assistance has been requested by TVA Architects for a project at 1120 NW 21st Ave:

Proposal is for a new four-story 45ft tall mixed-use/multi family residential development including 46 apartments, ground floor leaseable space, ROW and site improvements, landscaping and 51 long term and 3 short term bike parking stalls. On on-site parking provided.

Early Assistance has been requested by Holst Architecture for 72Foster at 7120 SE Foster Rd:

Project consists of new 80,000 sf four story building that will include 108 affordable housing units with approx. 10,000 sf of ground floor retail space and approx. 54 parking spaces.

Early Assistance has been requested by TVA Architects for a project at 3802 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd :

Early Assistance with meeting to discuss proposal for a new (5-story, 57′ tall) multi-family residential development.

Early Assistance has been requested by Merryman Barnes Architects for the King Parks apartments at 6445 NE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd:

New development of a 69 unit affordable housing project with community room, orrices and service spaces on the ground floor with 24 parking spaces accessed off the alley.

Early Assistance has been requested by TVA Architects for a project at 5036 NE Sandy Blvd:

New 6 story market rate mixed-use/multi-family development. 90 units proposed with 1 floor mixed use retail, 21 car parking spaces and 139 bike parking spaces.

Early Assistance has been requested by Gerald Rembowski Architect for a project at 1125 N Schmeer Rd:

Two lot land division in order to be able to build second hotel with 76 rooms on the proposed eastern lot.

A Pre-Application Conference has been scheduled by LRS Architects and Lever Architecture for Block 45:

A Pre-Application Conference to discuss a proposal for a new twelve story building. The building is proposed to have 7,500 square feet of ground floor retail and approximately 264 residential units. Project is a mix of affordable and market rate housing. No parking is proposed.

LRS Architects have submitted NW 14th & Raleigh for Design Review:

New construction of a twelve story building with 93 units of affordable housing, associated resident amenities and a ground floor commercial space on a 10,000 sf site. Parking for 16 cars will be provided on the ground floor.

GBD Architects have submitted revisions to Oregon Square for Design Review:

Type III Design Review for a 4-block phased development. Changes to LU 15-156716 are being proposed. Phase 1 is the superblock be developed into two apartment towers around a publicly accessed ped-only plaza.

Works Partnership have applied for demolition permit and building permit for a project at 110 SE Washington St:

Demo existing 2 story warehouse

Construct new 9 story building with underground parking;

Urban Development Group have applied for a building permit for a project at 316 NE 28th Ave:

Construct new, 4 story apartment building with 74 units, below grade parking

Building permits are under review for a project at 6400 SW Canyon Ct:

Building 1 – 76 units, 4 stories of living over 2 stories of below grade parking

Building 2 – 72 units, 4 stories of living over 2 stories of structured parking

Building 3 – 59 units, 3 stories over 1 story of structured parking

Building 4 – 60 units, 3 stories of living over 1 floor of structural parking

Stack Architecture have submitted a project at N Crawford & N Charleston Ave for building permit review:

New construction apartment bldg on north side of property – see 16-185213-CO for attached plaza and apartment bldg C

New construction 4 over 1 apartment building with parking garage and plaza -see 16-185235-CO for bldgs A&B

Iselin Architects have submitted a project at 8705 SE 13th Ave for building permit review:

New 5 story 24 unit apartment building with underground parking

Bora Architects have applied for a foundation permit for Block 20:

Block 20 – Foundation permit for 21 story condo tower – This permit includes piles, pile caps, below grade utilities and slab on grade.

Building permit is under review for a project at 223 SE 146th Ave:

Construct 3 story, 3 unit apartment building

Construct 3 story, 24 unit apartment building

Construct 3 story, 24 unit apartment building, includes parking and associated site work, detached trash enclosure is less than 120ft in area

Ankrom Moisan Architects have submitted the East Burnside Apartments at 10506 E Burnside for building permit review:

New construction of five story multidwelling residential building, consisting of 52 unit with 15 tuck-under parking spaces. Interior trash room

Myhre Group Architects have submitted a project at 5025 NE 21st Ave for building permit review:

Construct new 4 story, 28 unit apartment building, no parking, includes associated site work

Urban Development Group have submitted a project at 4926 SE Division St for building permit review:

New construction of a mixeduse building consisting of 127 apartment units and 7000 sf of ground floor commercial space; below grade parking

Myhre Group Architects have submitted a project at 4901 SE Hawthorne Blvd for building permit review:

Construct new 4 story mixed use building with (46) units and 2737 sf of retail, interior trash room

The Seven Corners Community Collaborative at 1949 SE Division St has been submitted for building permit review:

Construct new 4 story office building with retail and parking on ground floor, offices on floors 2-4, includes associated site work

Building permits are under review for a project at 5414 SE Duke St:

New 2-story building with 8 guest rooms

New 2-story building with 8 guest rooms

New 2-story building with 8 guest rooms

A building permit was issued to Scott Edwards Architecture for a project at 1451 NE Alberta St:

Redevelopment of existing building to create ground floor warm shell retail and two floors – 10 units – residential units above. Including street landscaping. Separate tenant improvement permit required for occupancy of 1st floor shell space.

A partial permit for excavation and piling at Station Place Lot 5 was issued to Hacker Architects:

Partial Permit for new 8 story building, scope includes erosion control/site preparation, excavation/piling, underground utilities, entire concrete structure.

An excavation and shoring was issued to GBD Architects for the Broadway Tower:

Excavation and Shoring for new 19 story commercial high rise structure with retail, office and hotel uses and 4 floors of below grade parking

A building permit was issued for a project at 2845 NE Columbia Blvd:

Construct new 103,912 sq ft, 3 story self storage building with associated utilities, parking and landscaping.