Pearl District News

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by pdxstreetcar

Good luck getting that through design review. This sounded promising a new 8 story hotel in the heart of the Pearl on an underutilized site. The exterior is bland and ugly especially air conditioning units, the ground floor needs to be a lot more active and open, and Everett/9th is treated as the back side with parking entry and pool on the corner (this should be the prime corner with entry). This thing looks cheap, will it be dryvit or EIFS?

Probably best to hire a local architecture firm who knows Portland, but most of all rearrange the first floor and come up with/spend some money on a better facade.

It might get through design review, but I bet you are right that it will get denied at least once and forced to redesign to better fit in with the Pearl District.

Though if they go with a brick facade and give it a bit of a rustic look, I am sure it will make it through design review.

I am actually surprised this isn't a high end hotel proposal simply because of being located in the Pearl District, not really the area that screams cheap hotel. A cheap hotel like this might be better off being built in the West End where the that area could benefit from having more affordable hotels.

[PacificNW]

urbanlife: Great pics on your Flickr site!

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by PacificNW

urbanlife: Great pics on your Flickr site!

Thanks, I need to update that site with my NYC photos and some Chicago photos from the spring but I have been lazy with it....heck, I think I might even have some SF photos from a couple years ago I need to put on there

[redbeard]

Originally Posted by davehogan

I'm pretty sure I know, but I don't want to get in trouble so I'll just leave it at we'll all know soon enough.

I think this is a cool project. Portland has too many full block projects, so one that's a 1/4 block seems like it has some potential here.

The project is for the full 1/2 block on 9th between Everett and Flanders

[MarkDaMan]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

I am actually surprised this isn't a high end hotel proposal simply because of being located in the Pearl District, not really the area that screams cheap hotel. A cheap hotel like this might be better off being built in the West End where the that area could benefit from having more affordable hotels.

I don't care for the Hampton Brand (owned by Hilton), but they general command about $129 and up a night. They are a higher end brand of the business class hotels, slightly better than the Holiday Inn Express, about the same as Courtyard by Marriott. Heads above cheap, Best Western, Motel 6 types.

I actually wonder if a high end hotel brand, or more preferred, a boutique like Heathmen, could thrive in the Pearl?

[pdxstreetcar]

I too was expecting higher end, I think this location screams for higher end boutique hotel either independent or chain. Something like a 'W' (which I think was floated as a name years ago for a hotel near Tanner Springs). I'm amazed there is not a hotel in the Pearl already especially in the heart of it, that would be a huge selling point above the other hotels.

Nothing wrong with a mid-range hotel in the Pearl, but it should just have quality urban design and exterior. Plus it doesnt even cost more to make the windows less monotonous, just dont place them all the same distance apart.

[davehogan]

Originally Posted by pdxstreetcar

I too was expecting higher end, I think this location screams for higher end boutique hotel either independent or chain. Something like a 'W' (which I think was floated as a name years ago for a hotel near Tanner Springs). I'm amazed there is not a hotel in the Pearl already especially in the heart of it, that would be a huge selling point above the other hotels.

Nothing wrong with a mid-range hotel in the Pearl, but it should just have quality urban design and exterior. Plus it doesnt even cost more to make the windows less monotonous, just dont place them all the same distance apart.

Judging from the first floor this won't be anything above a Courtyard, Hampton Inn, or Embassy Suites type. It looks like it will have limited on-site dining, which is something, but I just can't see a W or similar high end brand in the Pearl yet. Portland just doesn't have the market for another high end hotel until the Convention Center hotel is completed.

[PDX City-State]

This may be uninspiring, but it's better than what's there now. Sure, the existing building could be remodeled, but it's currently not remodeled; there's no where to stay in the Pearl District; and 9th Avenue isn't exactly bustling.

Having a hotel in the Pearl will be great for the Pearl, and having new development so close to the North Park Blocks will be great for the Park Blocks.

Considering all that's happening in that area with the remodel of the 511, the remodel of several existing structures along the park and along 9th (including the new produce market), the future park block, and more student housing--I'd say that overall this area is in great shape.

[bvpcvm]

Does anyone have acces to DJC? There's something about another new apt building.

[pbd]

Originally Posted by bvpcvm

Does anyone have acces to DJC? There's something about another new apt building.

California affordable housing developer plans 185-unit Pearl District multifamily building

POSTED: Monday, November 5, 2012 at 11:19 AM PT
BY: Lee Fehrenbacher


A San Francisco-based affordable housing development company is moving forward with plans to construct a new multifamily building in the Pearl.

BRIDGE Housing Corporation is in the design process for a six-story, 185-unit multifamily dwelling at Northwest Raleigh Street and 13th Avenue. The company has hired Ankrom Moisan Associated Architects as its design team, and according to the pre-application conference notice, the project will have ground-floor retail space and 115 below-grade parking slots.

Lyn Hikida, director of communications and fund development, said BRIDGE was founded in 1983 and has participated in the development of more than 14,000 homes serving more than 37,000 people.

[bvpcvm]

Oh OK. I saw the pre-app conference notice for that one. It's actually two buildings, 6-stories each. Together with the Bob Ball project, we have a little cluster going in that area.

Which got me to thinking. Currently, these are all the projects I can think of in the Pearl:

1. This one - 2 6 story buildings IIRC
2. Bob Ball building - 5 stories or so
3. Marriot - 9th and Marshall
4. Mysterious MTV Real World hotel - 8 stories
5. New building next to the Janey on Everett & 11th
6. New student housing on the Park blocks
7. Final installment of Station Place over on Naito, currently UC

Not bad.

And while we're at it, in NW:

1. Savier Place, two 4-story buildings on 23rd and Savier
2. The New New Old Lompoc apts, 4 stories
3. 20th and Raleigh, 3-stories
4. 19th & Johnson, two 5-story buildings
5. 23rd and Lovejoy, 6 stories, UC
6. New grocery store w/two 6-story apts, 21st and Raleigh (Conway)
7. New apts where Besaw's is, and/or across Savier where there's currently an industrial building facing 23rd.
8. 5-story building at 18th and Northrup

Altogether, 15 new buildings in the Pearl & Northwest. Throw in some projects in Goose Hollow, and the numerous projects across the river and it's getting hard to keep track of them all.

[zilfondel]

Yeah, not bad! Now we need to document these with photos as they start construction.

[Derek]

All those projects are awesome. It'd be even more awesome to see a little bit more height though.

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by bvpcvm

Oh OK. I saw the pre-app conference notice for that one. It's actually two buildings, 6-stories each. Together with the Bob Ball project, we have a little cluster going in that area.

Which got me to thinking. Currently, these are all the projects I can think of in the Pearl:

1. This one - 2 6 story buildings IIRC
2. Bob Ball building - 5 stories or so
3. Marriot - 9th and Marshall
4. Mysterious MTV Real World hotel - 8 stories
5. New building next to the Janey on Everett & 11th
6. New student housing on the Park blocks
7. Final installment of Station Place over on Naito, currently UC

Not bad.

And while we're at it, in NW:

1. Savier Place, two 4-story buildings on 23rd and Savier
2. The New New Old Lompoc apts, 4 stories
3. 20th and Raleigh, 3-stories
4. 19th & Johnson, two 5-story buildings
5. 23rd and Lovejoy, 6 stories, UC
6. New grocery store w/two 6-story apts, 21st and Raleigh (Conway)
7. New apts where Besaw's is, and/or across Savier where there's currently an industrial building facing 23rd.
8. 5-story building at 18th and Northrup

Altogether, 15 new buildings in the Pearl & Northwest. Throw in some projects in Goose Hollow, and the numerous projects across the river and it's getting hard to keep track of them all.

Great list thanks for compiling. One question in case I missed it. aren't number 7 and number 3 the same and not UC yet? Or is there another piece I am not aware of.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by pdxtraveler

Great list thanks for compiling. One question in case I missed it. aren't number 7 and number 3 the same and not UC yet? Or is there another piece I am not aware of.

He meant to say the final installment of The Yards at Union Station, apartments.

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by Derek

He meant to say the final installment of The Yards at Union Station, apartments.

Ah! That makes sense!

[Mr. Walch]

GBD has a early advise appointment for a 18 - 24 story apartment building with 200 - 270 apartment. Add that to the Parker and the Ankrom Moison project and that end of the Pearl is blowing up.

[pdxtraveler]

I noticed yesterday that the Residence Inn site by Station Place has construction trailers parked. Hopeful sign of beginning? Not an exciting design, but okay.

[mmeade]

Demolition has begun.
Powell's Technical Books R.I.P.

[maccoinnich]

Yeah, I noticed that they'd cleared the site of vegetation, and made other initial moves. They're still moving through the permit process though, so they can't begin full construction yet.

That's pretty exciting about the GBD project.. Block 227 is directly in front of my apartment, and will ruin my view of the Fremont Bridge. We must stop this abomination in its tracks now.