Category Archives: News Roundup

Weekly Roundup: Post Office Redevelopment, 419 SW Washington, NE 106th & Halsey and more

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Broadway Corridor USPS

Conceptual image of the Post Office Redevelopment, from the 2015 Broadway Corridor Framework Plan

A 30-story tower by ZGF Architects is planned at 419 SW Washington St, according to The Oregonian. The existing building on the site was recently being used as a temporary homeless shelter, and is now vacant.

The first public hearing of the proposed draft of the Central City 2035 Plan was dominated by concerns about building heights in West End and Goose Hollow, according to an article in the DJC*. Meanwhile, Portland Shoupistas argued that proposed changes related to parking in the plan represent a step backwards.

The Oregonian wrote that up to 1,200 more apartments are proposed on the Prometheus Property in South Waterfront.

Kimberly Branam has been picked as the next executive director of the Portland Development Commission, according to The Oregonian. For the past five years Branam has been second-in-command to former executive director Patrick Quinton.

The Portland Business Journal wrote about the 54 organizations that are backing the proposed $258M affordable housing bond.

OPB’s “State of Wonder” discussed Yard, the recently completed Burnside Bridgehead tower that has sharply divided the opinions of Portlanders.

The Oregonian discovered the premium that will be paid by the PDC for a piece of land near the airport, necessary to allow the Post Office Redevelopment to move forward.

After 92 years, the Lotus Cardroom & Cafe will close later this month, according to KATU. The bar will be demolished to make way for the 3rd & Salmon hotel tower.

An affordable housing development at NE 106th & Halsey by Gerding Edlen and Human Solutions has nearby residents worried, according to the Mid-County Memo.

The timeframe for the City and ZRZ Realty to agree on the price of a piece of land at the Zidell Yards has been missed, according to The Oregonian.  Under a development agreement signed last year, the City has the option to buy the property at an agreed price, for the purpose of building affordable housing.

The Willamette Week wrote about 5 MLK, the Burnside Bridgehead high-rise that will replace the 95 year old Fishels Furniture building.

Work has begun on the Union at St Johns, according to the Portland Business Journal. The mixed use building will include 100 apartments as well as 20,000 sq ft of ground-floor retail space.

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

Weekly Roundup: 3rd & Taylor, Overland Warehouse, Osprey Apartments, and more

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3rd & Taylor

The proposed hotel at 3rd & Taylor, which will be located on the site currently occupied by the Ancient Order of United Workmen Temple

In “Downtown Duo” the Business Tribune reported on the two buildings planned for a single Downtown block: the recently approved hotel at 3rd & Salmon; and the adjacent office building at 3rd & Taylor, which is currently going through Design Review.

Portland Architecture had a look inside the renovated 1320 Broadway building, formerly home to The Oregonian. The Portland Business Journal reported that D+H Financial Technologies have signed a lease for 45,600 sq ft of office space in the building, leaving just two spaces left for rent.

Moovel North America will move into the Overland Warehouse Company Building, the Old Town building that once housed strip club Magic Gardens. The building is currently being renovated by Urban Development + Partners.

The DJC wrote about the ongoing efforts* at the Lloyd Center to redefine what it “means to be a 21st-century mall”. As well as a major renovation to the skating rink and main entry, it includes turning the former cinema into creative office space, which will be leased by Providence Health Services.

The Portland Mercury reported that developers have sued the City over the methodology it uses to determine Parks System Development Charges.

The DJC published photos of the Osprey Apartments, under construction on South Waterfront Block 37.

The renovation and expansion of PSU School of Business Administration has reached a halfway point, according to an article in the Business Tribune.

The Portland Business Journal wrote about how Portland’s newest maker space is taking shape in the Iron Fireman Building.

The Oregonian reported that Portland Public Schools are pausing on the $750 million construction bond, and now intend to go to the voters in May 2017, rather than November 2016 as originally planned.  If passed, the bond would pay for the rebuilds of Lincoln High School, Madison High School and Benson High School.

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

Weekly Roundup: N Williams Center, Prometheus Property, Con-way Masterplan, and more

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N Williams Center

N Williams Center will offer 61 units of affordable housing, with priority given to “longtime residents and those who have been displaced in the neighborhood”

The DJC reported* on how development fees are stacking in Portland, potentially affecting the viability of projects currently in development.

After two Design Advice Request hearings earlier in the year, Ankrom Moisan Architects’ 1430 NW Glisan has now been submitted for Design Review. The Business Tribune took a look at how the building has evolved.

The Portland Business Journal covered the 64 apartments about to go up on the site of the former Macadam’s Bar & Grill at 5833 SW Macadam.

With a Pre-Application Conference scheduled for development on the Prometheus Property in South Waterfront—which could include 4 buildings, of 200 to 300 apartments units in each—BikePortland wrote that the “dominoes keep falling for a continuous river path in South Waterfront“.

The Portland Business Journal wrote that the affordable housing development N. Williams Center will include 61 units, with a mix that includes “one-, two- and three-bedroom units, as well as a children’s area, gathering spaces, community gardens and a chicken coop.”

The Oregonian reported on the shortlist for the new director of the Portland Development Commission.

With development exploding in and around the Con-way Masterplan area, the Portland Business Journal took a look at completed and planned buildings at the far end of the Northwest District, including the LL Hawkins, Q21, Leland James Building and Blocks 294E and 295E.

The Oregonian wrote about how a conflict-of-interest probe marks the “latest chapter in Yard building saga”.

*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

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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 Hotel, and 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 School, Madison 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.

Weekly Roundup: Residential Infill Project, Design Overlay Zone Assessment, Affordable Housing Bond and more

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Residential Infill Project

The Residential Infill Project has released recommendations for changes to the zoning in Portland’s single family residential zones. One of the proposed changes is reduced the allowable height of flat roofs from 30′ to 25′.

The Portland Business Journal wrote that jazz club Jimmy Mak’s has found a new home, with an exterior courtyard. The Pearl District bar is relocating to make way for the Modera Davis apartment building.

The Business Tribune reported that work is beginning on the Design Overlay Zone Assessment project. As Portland gets ready to expand the number of areas covered by Design Review it has asked consultants to perform an independent, comprehensive assessment of the city’s design overlay zone.

Work is about to begin on the Broadway Tower, according to the Portland Business Journal. The 19 story tower will include a Radisson Red hotel and 175,000 sq ft of office space.

The Portland Business Journal had a look inside Stoel Rives’ “lofty new digs” at Park Avenue West.

KGW reported that demands for Portland’s core housing leaves suburbs slow to grow.

Details of the $258.4 million affordable housing bond that will be on the November ballot were published in the Portland Mercury.

Portland is seeking feedback on the Residential Infill Project, and is holding a series of open houses. An online open house will accept comments until August 15th 2015. A letter to the editor the Portland Chronicle was critical of the project, and argued that the City is “failing its promise to the majority of its citizens”.

Weekly Roundup: Oregonian Publishing Building, Old Town Block 33, 2035 Comprehensive Plan, and more

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Centers and Corridors - 2035 Comprehensive Plan

The “Centers and Corridors” identified in the 2035 Comprehensive Plan. In the next 20 years City Planners anticipate that 50 percent of Portland’s growth will occur in the “Centers and Corridors”. 30 percent will occur in the Central City, with the remaining 20 percent of the growth happening in the rest of the city.

The DJC reported ($) on Urban Renaissance Group’s big plans for the Oregonian Publishing buildings at 817 SW 17th Ave. The redevelopment of the one and half blocks in Goose Hollow could include a full block residential tower by Mithun, with different options “ranging from 245 feet in 21 stories to 325 feet in 29 stories.” The half block parcel would developed as an eight story office building, 115′ in height, designed by GBD Architects.

The Portland Business Journal reported on a potentially “catalytic” development on Old Town Chinatown Block 33. Guardian Real Estate is planning a project with “up to 300 residential units, ground-floor retail and a new hotel”.

A proposed 1% Construction Excise Tax had a first reading at City Council, with all five City Commissioners indicated support for the proposal. The Portland Mercury reported that the biggest question was whether multifamily buildings should be treated as “residential” or “commercial” properties.

OPB reported that ground was broken on the OHSU Knight Cancer Research Building.

The Business Tribune covered the proposed changes to the Oregon Square development. A Pre-Application Conference was recently held, in advance of the submittal of a revised Design Review application.

The City Council approved the 2035 Comprehensive Plan, the 20 year growth plan that has been years in the making. Changes to City code will start coming into effect in 2018.

The Bureau of Planning & Sustainability has released the draft recommendations for the Residential Infill Project. OPB discussed what it could mean with two members of the Stakeholder Advisory Committee.

The Oregonian looked into how the Lloyd Center Remodel could help the mall recapture the hearts of Portlanders.

Weekly Roundup: Veterans Memorial Coliseum, Residential Infill Project, $250 million housing bond and more

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Image of a potential "north end party deck" at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, identified as one of the potential improvements by the 2015 study into the building.

Image of a potential “north end party deck” at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, identified as one of the potential improvements by the 2015 study into the building.

Veterans Memorial Coliseum was declared a “National Treasure” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Described by Curbed in article about the designation as “one of the finest International-Style civic buildings in the west”, the fate of the building remains unclear. A report published last year identified a number of options for the building, ranging from demolition to major improvements, however the Portland City Council has yet to take any action on the report.

As work on the Residential Infill Project wraps up, the Oregonian reported that Bureau of Planning and Sustainability is readying their recommendations for changes to the Zoning Code. Developers “would be required to reduce the scale of homes they build in Portland’s single-family zones and would be allowed to construct more duplexes, triplexes and other forms of so-called ‘middle housing’.”

The Portland Chronicle reported on the ten story building at 1500 SW Taylor St, likely to replace the 1892 Holman House in Goose Hollow.

BikePortland broke that the news that Tesla Motors will build a missing section of the Willamette Greenway Trail, as part of their new showroom and repair center at 4330 SW Macadam. Initial plans submitted to the City indicated that they would not build the trail.

The Portland Development Commission will own a new mixed income building in Lents Town Center at 9101 SE Foster Rd. The public agency is taking over development from the original owner, Williams & Dame.

The City Council is getting ready to ask voters to approve a $250 million bond measure, to fund affordable housing. If approved, the measure would add $75 a year to the taxes owed on a typical single family home.

Central City Concern published a blog post about their current affordable housing developments. Miracles Central is scheduled to open in August of this year, with the Hill Park Apartments at 110 SW Arthur following in Spring of 2017.

Bloomberg wrote about D.R. Johnson, the Riddle, OR company that is the first domestic manufacturer of Cross Laminated Timber (CLT) panels. CLT is new to the United States, but has a long history of use in Europe. Current CLT projects in Portland include Albina Yard, Framework (Pearl) and Carbon12.

KGW had a sneak peak inside the nearly complete Yard tower at the Burnside Bridgehead.

The Oregonian reviewed a Portland Art Museum exhibition about Portland-based Allied Works Architecture.

Weekly Roundup: the NV, Zidell Yards, Goat Blocks and more

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The NV

The NV apartments in the North Pearl by ZGF Architects

The Business Tribune wrote about The NV, one of the growing number of residential towers in the North Pearl.

Eater PDX reported that pizzeria Please Louise will be going into the ground floor of the LL Hawkins building in Slabtown.

Urban Land Magazine analyzed how the mix of uses at the Goat Blocks made the development possible.

The Oregonian broke the news that up to 67 windows will be added to the nearly complete Yard tower at the east end of the Burnside Bridge. The cost of the revisions will mostly be covered by the City of Portland, through fee refunds.

ZRZ Realty has hired Thomas Henneberry, “a longtime real estate consultant from the D.C. area” to oversee development of the Zidell Yards, according to the Portland Business Journal. The firm last year received design advice for Zidell Blocks 4 & 6, though do not intend to break ground on the buildings until tenants are secured.

BikePortland had a look at the 600 space Lloyd Cycle Station, developed as part of the Hassalo on Eighth project.

The Oregonian reported on developer Gerding Edlen’s plans for a 17 story tower at 5 SE Martin Luther King Jr Blvd. The building would replace the building that has housed Fishels Furniture for decades.

The Business Tribune checked in on the construction progress at the Japanese Garden Expansion. The new cultural village by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma is expected to be completed in April 2017.

Portland Architecture spoke to Allied Works founder Brad Cloepfil, in advance of a retrospective exhibition about the firm’s work at Portland Art Museum.

The Business Tribune looked at the ongoing restoration of the former Oregonian publishing building at 1320 Broadway. The renovation is set for completion on June 30th.

New restaurant Q, the successor to Veritable Quandary, will be located in the 2&Taylor building, according to the Portland Business Journal. The former Yamhill Marketplace and Bally’s Total Fitness underwent a major renovation in 2014, and is now home to Jama Software.

The Willamette Week asked whether it is appropriate for the new 2035 Comprehensive Plan to downzone areas of East Portland in the middle of a housing crisis.

Eater PDX reported that Danwei Canting Chinese food pop-up is likely going into the under construction Central Eastside 811 Stark building.

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

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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: Oregon Square, Slabtown, Spokane.13 and more

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1015 NW 16th Ave

Elevation of the proposed apartment building at 1015 NW 16th Ave, as shown at the Pre-Application Conference in March

The DJC reported ($) that Oregon Square will be proceeding as a phased development. The western two buildings, Block 90 and Block 91, will be built first, and include around 560 units. American Assets Trust vice president and regional manager Wade Lange, quoted in the article, stated that they have asked GBD Architects to “keep it as close to the previously approved design (as possible)”.

The former Slabtown bar at 1015 NW 16th Ave was demolished this week, according to the Portland Mercury. A new 6-story, 153-unit studio apartment building by Koz Development is set to replace it.

The Oregonian reported that Portland is now the 26th largest city in the US. The paper noted that “between July 2014 and July 2015, Portland’s population increased 1.9 percent, or by 11,889 people”. Looking at the same data, BikePortland concluded that “Portland is finally adding homes almost as fast as people are moving here“.

The Atlantic asked whether “Portland [can] avoid repeating San Francisco’s mistakes” around housing.

The Business Tribune wrote about TVA Architect’s Spokane.13 apartment building, currently going up in the Sellwood neighborhood. The 4 story mixed use building will have 30 residential units and two commercial spaces at the ground floor.