Pearl District News

[pdxstreetcar]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Without knowing anything about the internal politics of the PDNA, it seems to me pretty reasonable that the chair of the neighborhood association would speak on behalf of the neighborhood association. Would you care to elaborate on your point? I'm genuinely curious.

Its her way or the highway on every issue in the neighborhood and has no time for anyone who disagrees, has a condescending tone when anyone questions her ideas/decisions, skirts opposition with behind closed door meetings for neighborhood business, and speaks for everyone in the neighborhood as if it was her personal neighborhood and as if everyone agreed with her. Heights are her big issue now and has no time for anyone who thinks that there shouldn't be unlimited heights in the north end of the neighborhood. Before she was the one who insisted on the terrible couplet and scolded Safeway for standing in the way of its implementation. She definitely has made a lot of enemies in the way she conducts the neighborhood representation. I could go on.

[Derek]

It looks like PNCA is moving to Chinatown?

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2014/03/the_future_of_old_town_chinato_5.html

"The most successful development in the neighborhood has been around education. In the past five years, we've seen Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, U of O, and Northwest Evaluation Association move in. PNCA is coming next year, and Mercy Corps has a similar feel as some of the educational organizations. OCOM has nearly 300 students in the neighborhood daily, as well as patients, U of O uses their space consistently and is growing their Portland presence, and PNCA will provide a critical anchor on the Pearl side of the neighborhood. Is there an opportunity to build on the success of these organizations?"

[maccoinnich]

I think the Oregonian is referring to PNCA's upcoming move into the 511 Federal Building. Technically the boundary between Old Town / Chinatown and the Pearl is Broadway, but I've always thought of the Park Blocks as being more of a transition.

[Derek]

Ahhhhh ok, I remember that discussion a few months back.

[philopdx]

I'm missing something here - if PNCA is vacating the warehouse on the 13th, but the 511 Federal Building won't be done for several months at least, where do classes happen in the meantime?

[pdxpearl]

Originally Posted by downtownpdx

New development is great in the right spots. Maybe I read that ^^ wrong, but I hope you aren't pining for all those lovely old warehouses, many of which have been thoughtfully revamped with their historical character intact, to be demolished so the Pearl can look just like SoWa? That kind of development probably wouldn't suit the "demands of the neighborhood" since the very charm that attracted its residents in the first place would be gone.

I think the market will dictate the demands of the neighborhood going forward. Unfortunately, I do not see "all" the warehouses in the Pearl district surviving into the next several decades. As an example, look at the changes happening north of Lovejoy (e.g. Unico's proposed tower, block 17, Park Central, etc.). I think it is inevitable that with population growth (i.e. PDX expected to add tens of thousands of new residents over the next several years, taller buildings are more likely to be developed).

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by philopdx

I'm missing something here - if PNCA is vacating the warehouse on the 13th, but the 511 Federal Building won't be done for several months at least, where do classes happen in the meantime?

No, not vacating by the 13th, vacating their campus (two buildings fronting each other) on 13th Ave. Although I think they were going to keep the other building (the one that wasn't sold) for the time being.

[philopdx]

Ohhh, I gotcha.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

Yes, PNCA are vacating their campus on 13th, and any future development is going to happen on the North Park blocks. I really like the interior Holst did for that building, so I'll be sad to see it go too.

I am usually all for bigger developments, but this one really sucks. I would much rather see that building be used by a creative use tech company or an artist co-op or anything. It is one of the better interior designs from Holst.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by maccoinnich

I think the Oregonian is referring to PNCA's upcoming move into the 511 Federal Building. Technically the boundary between Old Town / Chinatown and the Pearl is Broadway, but I've always thought of the Park Blocks as being more of a transition.

Yeah, I think that border has moved in recent years. East of the North Park Blocks use to be considered Old Town/Chinatown, but it makes sense for those blocks west of Broadway to want to be considered a part of the Pearl for high prices per sq ft.

[NYC2ATX]

Kind of a random musing, but the PNCA move had me thinking...how nice would it be if they not only extended the park blocks just west of the 511 Building (renderings of the PNCA renovation indicate that's in the plan), but all the way through the post office site, should it be redeveloped? It could reach all the way to Lovejoy and be almost as long as the south park blocks.

[pdxtraveler]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Kind of a random musing, but the PNCA move had me thinking...how nice would it be if they not only extended the park blocks just west of the 511 Building (renderings of the PNCA renovation indicate that's in the plan), but all the way through the post office site, should it be redeveloped? It could reach all the way to Lovejoy and be almost as long as the south park blocks.

I agree, and I am pretty sure that would be the intention. I can't see that site being redeveloped without that being a requirement.

[ablerock]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Kind of a random musing, but the PNCA move had me thinking...how nice would it be if they not only extended the park blocks just west of the 511 Building (renderings of the PNCA renovation indicate that's in the plan), but all the way through the post office site, should it be redeveloped? It could reach all the way to Lovejoy and be almost as long as the south park blocks.

Yeah, definitely seems like a no-brainer for the city.

A bullet on Spread 7 of this PDF explaining the "green loop" concept shows that the idea is definitely on Portland planners' minds:

"Alternative Alignment B – B1. Link Broadway Bridge pathways to North Park Blocks, NW Johnson and new open space(s) with USPS redevelopment"

[65MAX]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Kind of a random musing, but the PNCA move had me thinking...how nice would it be if they not only extended the park blocks just west of the 511 Building (renderings of the PNCA renovation indicate that's in the plan), but all the way through the post office site, should it be redeveloped? It could reach all the way to Lovejoy and be almost as long as the south park blocks.

That is already happening in front of the 511. For now it's being used for construction staging, but they already have a Lee Kelly sculpture on site that will be the centerpiece of the new park.

The Central Post Office is making plans to move to the airport, where most of the mail comes through, thus eliminating a major step in the delivery process (trucking the mail from the airport to the sorting facility). Their site will then be redeveloped and yes, Park Blocks will run all the way to Lovejoy.

[Derek]

Originally Posted by 65MAX

That is already happening in front of the 511. For now it's being used for construction staging, but they already have a Lee Kelly sculpture on site that will be the centerpiece of the new park.

The Central Post Office is making plans to move to the airport, where most of the mail comes through, thus eliminating a major step in the delivery process (trucking the mail from the airport to the sorting facility). Their site will then be redeveloped and yes, Park Blocks will run all the way to Lovejoy.

I didn't know that parking lot was going to become a park. That's excellent news. That lot is a hideous eyesore at the end of the North Park Blocks.

[65MAX]

Yes, it's going to act as the forecourt for PNCA, so lots of activity space and student interaction. It'll really change the feel of the entire North Park Blocks.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by NYC2ATX

Kind of a random musing, but the PNCA move had me thinking...how nice would it be if they not only extended the park blocks just west of the 511 Building (renderings of the PNCA renovation indicate that's in the plan), but all the way through the post office site, should it be redeveloped? It could reach all the way to Lovejoy and be almost as long as the south park blocks.

My fantasy is to see the Post Office building site redeveloped, the North Park Blocks extended into the site, and a mixed use of buildings wrapping around the parks to create a NYC Rockefeller Center style complex. That is what I would love to see happen.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by 65MAX

Yes, it's going to act as the forecourt for PNCA, so lots of activity space and student interaction. It'll really change the feel of the entire North Park Blocks.

That is really great for the college and will create a good active presence for the North Park Blocks. I imagine it will have a smaller yet similar effect that PSU has with the South Park Blocks.

I remember back when PSU's architecture department was looking for a temporary home and was going to try and get the old Customs House, but it was shot down because it was too far from the PSU campus. Which we ended up dealing with being stuck in the ugly Unitus Building for two years.

[pdxpearl]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

That is really great for the college and will create a good active presence for the North Park Blocks. I imagine it will have a smaller yet similar effect that PSU has with the South Park Blocks.

I remember back when PSU's architecture department was looking for a temporary home and was going to try and get the old Customs House, but it was shot down because it was too far from the PSU campus. Which we ended up dealing with being stuck in the ugly Unitus Building for two years.

Is the Customs House completed for office tenants? I feel like they've been working on renovations for quite some time and I haven't noticed any tenant activity on the site. Anyone know anything?

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by pdxpearl

Is the Customs House completed for office tenants? I feel like they've been working on renovations for quite some time and I haven't noticed any tenant activity on the site. Anyone know anything?

I am not sure, I do know they have been using it as the police department for Grimm and I imagined they have been filming other scenes in that building as well for Grimm.