Pearl District News

[MightyAlweg]

Originally Posted by Okstate

Do you think the decorations reflected the "normal" demographics' taste that shops for condos in the Pearl? I didn't care much for the decorations either but then again they certainly aren't used to selling units to my demographic, thus not giving a rats a$$ what I like or don't.

...Why is a coffee table made of a plasma T.V. cutting edge? Sounds like they were trying a little too hard.

The decor reflected the average Pearl demographic, most likely. But considering that these were all top penthouse units, and were supposed to evoke "dreams", the average and predictable model home decor didn't quite cut it. I guess I was expecting more than just a Scandesign showroom. I was expecting something really stunning and unusual, instead of just merely nice and safe.

The other interesting thing is that they didn't do anything to the bathrooms or kitchens that I remember. They were just the standard builder-supplied surfaces and treatments; lots of beige and white stone or granite and basic modern fixtures. I was expecting them to go in and customize the kitchens and baths beyond the norm, maybe do some cool glass and tile work, custom cabinetry or storage, etc. One bathroom at the Encore had some wallpaper and a funky mirror installed, but that was it. Otherwise, it was just standard fixtures with safe beige countertops and white baths.

The recent tour of six high-rise units here in OC was hosted by the American Society of Interior Designers, using local firms and designers. The coffee table with the plasma TV's was in the kids rumpus room, decorated with surfboard and skateboard paraphenalia, and it was playing surfing videos and MTV. The room was an OC teenage hangout kind of a scene, but it was an unusual way to do a lucite coffee table, and it had folks talking.

The leather flooring was stunning. I never would have thought it was something I would like, but in person it was really masculine yet very sleek and hip.

[zilfondel]

I dunno, I think Alweg is on to something here. It is kind of absurd that they are charging 2 million bucks (thats a LOT of money) for a concrete box with a view. Sounds like the organizers were doing this on a shoestring budget and didnt want to commit to actually sell them.

From what I've read, the typical Street of Dreams was really over-the-top too.

Portland does need to push the envelope, too many people are very complacent with a conservative, status-quo design.

[ue]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

Portland does need to push the envelope, too many people are very complacent with a conservative, status-quo design.

It may not be Seattle or Vancouver, but be glad you have what you have. You guys have some pretty decent modern buildings, especially around PSU and parts of the Pearl District.

In Edmonton, we'd be lucky to have one of your South Waterfront, PSU Area, or Pearl District condominiums. Be glad you guys don't have the cheesy cartoony or overly stuccolicious condos like the Century, ICON I/II, the Legacy, VivaCity, or Grand Cental Manor condo styles we have here. Of course, condos are just an example.

You guys have a great handful of modern towers to be proud of !

[MightyAlweg]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

I dunno, I think Alweg is on to something here. It is kind of absurd that they are charging 2 million bucks (thats a LOT of money) for a concrete box with a view.

Several units on the Street of Dreams were even higher, listed at 2.5 Million.

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by MightyAlweg

And I was reminded how white, white, white Portland is, and especially the Pearl District demographic is. We're talking lilly, lilly white crowds here for First Thursday. All looking very alike, very formulaic, very cookie cutter. And did I mention WHITE?! Man, would it kill them to get some folks of color to move there, or at least go to dinner there once in awhile? It was so white and clone-like, it was creepy.

Wow.

[Atomic Glee]

Originally Posted by zilfondel

Portland does need to push the envelope, too many people are very complacent with a conservative, status-quo design.

Speaking as a visitor to Portland who was blown away by the city's sense of design - if you think Portland is overly burdened with "conservative, status-quo design," you'd probably blow a gasket at the sort of stuff most of the rest of the country is building. I'd love to have some of your "conservative, status-quo design" spread around a little bit.

[Okstate]

^ I feel the same way coming from the Midwest. Actually, come to think of it, I don't really know what part of the country I'm from.

The area around Tulsa, Oklahoma is described (in books) as being either the South, Midwest, or Great Plains....Talk about an identity crisis!

[MightyAlweg]

Tulsa and OK has some great MCM buildings and design though. I picked up a book at Powell's last week on Julius Shulman, the famous MCM photographer, and while most of his stuff was photographed in LA, Orange County or San Diego, he did capture some of the great MCM stuff around Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

[urbanlife]

Things like the Street of Dreams is nothing more than a joke to humor wealthy white America...I fail to see why anyone that isnt from the Lake O would want to even come to this.

Seeing that where I grew up, they had this same thing, which was showcasing the biggest and most expensive suburban home money could buy was just one of the many reasons why I felt the need to move away from there.

Atomic Glee, I am grad you had a great time in our city, as you could probably see why there is such an attraction to move here from more conservative parts of the country.

MightyAlweg, the Pearl District and the Street of Dreams is not Portland...While it might look like it is, and located on the north end of downtown, it was simply the answer to attract suburban people back into the city where they can still own their car and drive everywhere and never have to worry about pesky city life because each building has its own security guard.

As you can see, there is a reason why I try and miss things like this.

[RED_PDXer]

ugh.. who cares about this?? What a silly exercise in over consumption..

[dkealoha]

You know, the thing is, if everyone keeps complaining about the suburban people coming back into the city, downtown will NEVER be what any of you say you want it to be. On one hand you complain about projects getting put on hold or canceled or adjusted, and then on another hand you complain about the people who might actually buy these places and get them built!

The Street of Dreams is one of many tactics to get people into these mostly empty buildings and keep the city moving. Without stuff like this, nothing is ever going to move forward. If the developer can't sell the stuff that is built now, how are they ever going to build affordable housing or fill retail (since they need people to be here to shop) or any of the other ameneties everyone wants? Maybe WE can't afford these multi million dollar units, but they are always fun to see, and it will attract people to the building even if that means they are buying a smaller, cheaper unit in it.

Buyers are buyers, regardless of where they live now or how they get their money or what their race is (there is nothing you can do about how white Portland is) so any way to get buyers into these buildings is good in my eyes.

[pylon]

I've heard more than one person ridicule The Pearl and South Waterfront as bastions for the well-off, but I'd rather they live downtown in very nice energy-efficient, walkable/mass transpo-able condos than up in the West Hills in energy-INefficient houses with yards to maintain (check out the yearly Hydro Hogs list in the WW) that they commute to in their Range Rover (12 mpg).

It's probably taking Portlanders a little while to get used to this new paradigm for high-end, low carbon footprint living... hence the ridiculing. Well-heeled Manhattanites have been living this way for decades, and we can learn a thing or two from them how to live the high life in a more sustainable way.

[rsbear]

Originally Posted by urbanlife

MightyAlweg, the Pearl District and the Street of Dreams is not Portland...

I disagree. Of course the Pearl District (and SoWa) are Portland. And so are the West Hills. Assuming all "real" Portlander's fit into a narrow stereotype of what you think is the appropraite way to live is silly.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by rsbear

I disagree. Of course the Pearl District (and SoWa) are Portland. And so are the West Hills. Assuming all "real" Portlander's fit into a narrow stereotype of what you think is the appropraite way to live is silly.

Well I have to work graveyard shifts this week, so my level of care is rather low right now...What I should of said is that "no one neighborhood is Portland." You should be able to agree that if one were to visit Portland for their first time and only spend time in the Pearl District, that they never really visited Portland...the same could be said if they only visited Hawthorne and though all of Portland was like that.

My issue with Street of Dreams is its suburban model over the years, it was a program that has promoted unsustainable practices for years and years...and I know very well that why this is in the Pearl this year and not out in the suburbs is because the same developers that would build the giant suburban homes cant sell their units in the Pearl that were constructed during the boom...which nothing wrong with trying to create some excitement and help move some units, which I hope they do sell a few from this....granted, I have little to no sympathy for developers, it is a risk taking business which means that there is always a negative that could happen that could mean you could lose everything, if you are willing to take that risk, no one should be there to hold your hand when it fails.

But then again, I find myself annoyed at how this country consumes, we are more than willing to sell and buy things we think we need, but when it comes to necessities that we need we let that fall by the wayside.

[dkealoha]

the same developers that would build the giant suburban homes cant sell their units in the Pearl

Hoyt Properties (the developer of most of the Pearl) does not build suburban McMansions

So, urbanlife, if you don't like the suburban developers and you don't like the Pearl developers, and you also don't like the consumeristic free market nature of this country, then why are you on a forum that discusses real estate development? This is called skyscraperpage.com for a reason.

[urbanlife]

Originally Posted by dkealoha

Hoyt Properties (the developer of most of the Pearl) does not build suburban McMansions

So, urbanlife, if you don't like the suburban developers and you don't like the Pearl developers, and you also don't like the consumeristic free market nature of this country, then why are you on a forum that discusses real estate development? This is called skyscraperpage.com for a reason.

So you are saying you can account for everyone that works at Hoyt has never worked for a suburban developer or was one at one time? Which I am not saying any of them are, I am just pointing out that there are a large spectrum of people that are developers that have been involved with things that are urban and suburban.

There is more to this site than boosting about how great developers are, if I am not mistaken, this site also goes into alot about urban planning, architecture, and community development...so I fail to see how one could say this site is only about discussing real estate development.

[edirp]

Toured both of 937's Street of Dreams units tonight.

I fail to see what everyone is whining about. The units are nicely designed and decorated and the views are absolutely amazing. Worth the price of admission just for those views.

We went just after 7 p.m.-- no lines for elevators and no crowds in the units, either.

I'd recommend the tour for anyone who wants a closer view of Pearl condos and anyone who wants to see fantastic panoramas of our fair city. Bring your camera for the views, views, views!

[smendesPDX]

everyone is jealous that they cannot afford them. I for one thought this show was great. I had an awesome time, waiting a few weeks for the crowds to die down, and given the housing market, they did a wonderful job!

[Leo]

Originally Posted by edirp

Toured both of 937's Street of Dreams units tonight.

I fail to see what everyone is whining about. The units are nicely designed and decorated and the views are absolutely amazing.

Having only looked at pictures online, "nice" was my impression also, which is why I decided not to go. I was hoping to see some really cool modern design, especially for the 937 and Block90 condos, but the pictures didn't look all that interesting. They just look like nicely and safely staged model condos for sale ...

[edirp]

The posted photos don't do justice to actually being in and experiencing the space.

An added bonus RE: 937, you are free to tour all the other units on the penthouse level (16), not just the 2 "Street" units. As well, you can tour 3 furnished units down on the 10th floor.