RiverPlace Redevelopment - Phase 1 | 325' | 30 floors | On Hold

[maccoinnich]

Pre-App for a first phase of development (via Portland Maps):

Multi-family high-rise development on former Riverplace Ath.Club site (R246187). This development would be a Phase 1 of the in-process CCMP for the entire Riverplace site (LU 21-053731). The project is designed under Hierarchy Level 2a. Runoff will be treated using ecoroofs and stormwater planters designed to meet the pollution reduction requirement using the 2020 Portland PAC. Flow control is not required due to the site discharging directly to the Willamette River through storm-only pipes. The project will be designed per the requirements listed in Portland¿s Central City 2035 Plan (CC2035), which includes a standard that requires ecoroofs on most new buildings in the Central City Plan District (see PCC 33.510.243). The proposed buildings will be constructed with a minimum of 60% of the roof area set aside for ecoroofs. The remaining roof area will be routed to planter facilities for treatment.

[maccoinnich]

Notice of a Pre-Application Conference for Phase 1.

[ORNative]

I am surprised that under current conditions they still plan for phase 1 to be a 325 foot tower. Long term perspective - the need will be there. In today's market I am not sure how fast it would fill.

[CorbinWarrick]

Originally Posted by ORNative

I am surprised that under current conditions they still plan for phase 1 to be a 325 foot tower. Long term perspective - the need will be there. In today's market I am not sure how fast it would fill.

Dude it’s residential. It’ll fill up fast it’s Portland

[subterranean]

I mean, it’s residential, not office. I doubt they’d have any issues filling it.

Any further indication that it could resemble those terraced beauties from Kengo Kuma?

[maccoinnich]

Via Portland Maps:

Phase 1 of the in-process CCMP for the entire Riverplace site (LU 21-053731). New 30-story multi-family high-rise development, with 329 proposed residential units. Parking for the building will be provided byutilizing unused existing spaces in the adjacent Douglas Apartments garage, which contains 385 stalls. Phase 1 preserves all of the existing housing in the Douglas Apartments and townhouse portions of the site. The project is designed under Hierarchy Level 2a. Runoff will be treated using ecoroofs and stormwater planters designed to meet the pollution reduction requirement using the 2020 Portland PAC. Flow control is not required due to the site discharging directly to the Willamette River through storm-only pipes. The project will be designed per the requirements listed in Portland¿s Central City 2035 Plan (CC2035), which includes a standard that requires ecoroofs on most new buildings in the Central City Plan District (see PCC 33.510.243). The proposed buildings will be constructed with a minimum of 60% of the roof area set aside for ecoroofs. The remaining roof area will be routed to planter facilities for treatment.

[maccoinnich]

Also, I decided to move discussion specific to this proposed high-rise to a separate thread. See the existing thread for previous and continuing conversation about the master plan.

[CorbinWarrick]

Nice. Probably standout like the SoWa towers for this site as well

[maccoinnich]

Project is on the Design Commission Agenda for 4/7:

DAR for a new 30-story, multi-family high-rise development on the former Riverplace Athletic Club site, which is part of Phase 1/ Block 1 of the overall 8-acre site of the recently approved RiverPlace Central City Masterplan CCMS, located in the University District/ S. Downtown Subdistrict of the Central City Plan District. The Phase 1/Block 1 development will be phased, with this development of the southern parcel of Block 1 first, followed by the development of the northern parcel, which will be a mixed-use building with retail and multi-family use. The Phase 1/Block 1 development preserves all existing housing in the Douglas Apartments and townhouse portions of the site.This proposal for the southern parcel of Block 1 will provide 329 dwelling units, and parking will be provided by utilizing unused existing spaces in the adjacent Douglas Apartments garage, which contains 385 stalls. 16,610 square feet of new public open area will be provided in two areas. In the middle of Block 1, a new 60’ wide connection will be provided linking the Harbor Drive Trail on the west of the property to the new Street “A”. At the southern end of the block, a roughly 10,000 square foot open area will be provided that includes an accessible ramp and pedestrian path to link the Harbor Drive Trail to the southern end of Street “A.

[maccoinnich]

Request for Response

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Request for Response

I snipped this from the document.

[CorbinWarrick]

When do you guys think ground breaks? Summer 23’???

[subterranean]

That is pretty prominent. Interesting choice with the diamond footprint, however.

That's the same kind of footprint as Big Pink. This has the unfortunate consequence of making the proportions look good from the thin angle and making them look squat from the "fat" angle.

Otherwise I think this looks pretty good and will be fun to see this whole area fill in eventually.

[maccoinnich]

Drawings [55 MB]

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Drawings [55 MB]

Here are a few snips from the document.

[AcmeGreg]

I wasn't able to download the pdf so flying a bit blind here. Has GBD produced a new "post-Kuma" master plan for this development within which this single tower is one component? Their website does not appear to contain anything in that regard, but if the design of this building is any indication I am prepared to be uninspired to say the least. What was the point of bringing someone like Kuma in on this to begin with - and tantalizing us with his brilliant initial concept - only to (apparently) dismiss his work entirely when all is said and done? Don't get it.

[CorbinWarrick]

Originally Posted by AcmeGreg

I wasn't able to download the pdf so flying a bit blind here. Has GBD produced a new "post-Kuma" master plan for this development within which this single tower is one component? Their website does not appear to contain anything in that regard, but if the design of this building is any indication I am prepared to be uninspired to say the least. What was the point of bringing someone like Kuma in on this to begin with - and tantalizing us with his brilliant initial concept - only to (apparently) dismiss his work entirely when all is said and done? Don't get it.

No that’s all canceled. They just brought him in to draw the plans as basically a “what if” selling mechanism. At this point I think they are just going with basic designers..

[tworivers]

Originally Posted by AcmeGreg

I wasn't able to download the pdf so flying a bit blind here. Has GBD produced a new "post-Kuma" master plan for this development within which this single tower is one component? Their website does not appear to contain anything in that regard, but if the design of this building is any indication I am prepared to be uninspired to say the least. What was the point of bringing someone like Kuma in on this to begin with - and tantalizing us with his brilliant initial concept - only to (apparently) dismiss his work entirely when all is said and done? Don't get it.

I hear you and am curious to find out what the backstory is. Surely someone here has a friend at GBD on speed dial? I think GBD's work is generally respectable or better but this design (even with the Yard-esque "reflected sun at sunset" rendering) seems especially predictable next to the stunning/world-class initial Kuma-based images. My guess, of course, is cost-cutting. At the very least, I hope they line the balconies up in a single vertical row. I feel like the section where they're offset is an unnecessary gimmick that also has the unfortunate effect of making the building seem wider to the eye.

[maccoinnich]

Staff Report, which doesn't yet recommend approval

[AcmeGreg]

Originally Posted by tworivers

I hear you and am curious to find out what the backstory is. Surely someone here has a friend at GBD on speed dial? I think GBD's work is generally respectable or better but this design (even with the Yard-esque "reflected sun at sunset" rendering) seems especially predictable next to the stunning/world-class initial Kuma-based images. My guess, of course, is cost-cutting. At the very least, I hope they line the balconies up in a single vertical row. I feel like the section where they're offset is an unnecessary gimmick that also has the unfortunate effect of making the building seem wider to the eye.

Yeah, I wonder re cost savings. GBD is trying very hard to make this one building visually "interesting" with all of the angles, notches, balcony offsets etc. Assume the same aesthetic will be applied to the balance of the project (?), which will result in a very busy, very glassy mass of buildings. Contrast that with Kuma's simple (to my mind) and elegant approach that creates a dynamic and unified "whole" for the district, quite distinct from Sowa or any other downtown area. Again, we don't have the benefit of seeing GBDs design in context with the entire development so I'm probably not being fair to them - but then again I'm sure this design was not created in a vacuum so it's only fair to extrapolate and draw conclusions.