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Plans to carve out a new plaza on the Lloyd Center side that faces Northeast Multnomah Street still need tweaking, according to the Portland Design Commission.

Commissioners offered feedback Thursday to the Portland-based Waterleaf Architecture, Interiors & Planning team designing Dallas-based Cypress Equities‘ $50 million mall remodel. The hearing focused on one of the most significant changes 鈥� punching out a portion of the parking garage to create a plaza next to Macy’s, facing Holladay Park.

鈥淭he vision is to open the mall to the community,鈥� Mark Mikolavich of Waterleaf Architecture told the commission. 鈥淚t’s to establish this entrance as the front door to the south. It’s a transformation that turns the mall outward literally.鈥�

But, as in previous hearings for the project, commissioners said the plaza designs still missed the mark. Several said they’d like to see a more inviting outdoor space. Commissioner Tad Savinar suggested adding more elements besides outdoor caf茅 tables with umbrellas, such as benches, a fountain or public art.

鈥淚’m not talking about clutter,鈥� he told the design team. 鈥淭ake the umbrellas out (and) this is a concrete slot. That’s not what the client is looking for and that’s not what we want.鈥�

Mikolavich and Waterleaf Architecture partner Bill Bailey sought feedback on several revisions to the plaza design based on previous comments from the commission. These included moving the curtain wall that gives approaching pedestrians a glimpse of the interior closer to the street, mounting a set of flagpoles on the wall of Macy’s instead of extending them to the ground and eliminating plans for a green wall in the plaza. The design team also proposed several options for the placement of canopies along either side of the plaza.

鈥淲e’re hoping to get some clarity, some feedback, on these design ideas,鈥� Bailey said. 鈥淲e really do want this session to focus on the plaza design.鈥�

After seeing the current plans, commissioners said they were left wanting more. Commissioner David Keltner said it would be nice if the plaza felt like a place where people could relax.

鈥淵ou’ve definitely accomplished your goal of getting people from the street into the mall,鈥� he said. 鈥淚s there the ability to have a zone or layer that says, 鈥榊ou can stop here for a minute?’ 鈥�

Several commissioners said they’d prefer that the flagpoles extend to the ground.

鈥淭o me, it’s kind of awkward,鈥� Commission Chairman David Wark said. 鈥淐an you still mount it on the wall, but bring it all the way down?鈥�

Savinar said his primary concern was that the plaza design acknowledged its users.

鈥淭here’s a place that a human being can inhabit; that’s what I’m looking for,鈥� he said. 鈥淚n order to make this a true entrance for people, you have to make it beyond architecture.鈥�

In addition to feedback on the Lloyd Center plaza, commissioners on Thursday held two design advice request hearings. The first was for Hub at Portland, a proposed 15-story, mixed-use development designed by Chicago-based Hartshorne Plunkard Architecture in partnership with Portland-based Myhre Group Architects at 325 and 333 S.W. Harrison St. The second hearing discussed the Market Street Apartments, a planned nine-story apartment building, at 1133 S.W. Market St., designed by Portland-based SERA Architects.

A hearing for the Hub at Portland, developed by Austin, Texas-based Core Campus, attracted a large number of neighboring residents, who testified that the proposed development would create too much shade over nearby Pettygrove Park, be inconsistent with other buildings in the neighborhood, exacerbate traffic congestion in the area and contribute to noise pollution.

Plans for the U-shaped building call for 400 units of mostly student housing, 35,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space for a potential grocer and below-grade parking for 97 vehicles.

Commissioners generally agreed with residents, and said that the design didn’t adequately respond to the surrounding district.

鈥淚t really feels like you’re just filling up the site,鈥� Commission Vice Chairman Ben Kaiser told the design team. 鈥淚t’s your right, but it’s not acknowledging the neighborhood 鈥� and there’s nothing else that big.鈥�