91视频

One of the most significant moves in Cypress Equities‘ $50 million remodel of the Lloyd Center mall has gained Portland Design Commission approval.

Commissioners on Thursday voted 3-1 to approve plans to carve out a new pedestrian entrance and plaza between Macy’s and Lloyd Center’s southwest parking structure on Northeast Multnomah Street. The plaza is expected to include stormwater and conventional planters with attached benches, storefronts, a new sky bridge, and a glass-lined entrance revealing a large spiral staircase inside. The stairs, an element of the original 1950s mall design, will be restored.

As a condition of approval, commissioners requested several revisions to the plaza design by Portland-based firms Waterleaf Architecture, Interiors & Planning and GreenWorks. These included switching out the birch trees proposed for the plaza planters with a species that would create less shade, removing one of the planters to open up access to a covered area adjacent to the parking garage and eliminating plans for fixed wooden benches.

Thursday’s hearing was the third time the Design Commission has reviewed plans to create a new plaza at Lloyd Center across the street from Holladay Park. The project team took careful note of the commission’s feedback at previous hearings and incorporated it into the revised design, said John Fainter, vice president of development with Dallas-based Cypress Equities. He said company officials believe replacing a portion of the mall’s parking spots with a plaza will be worthwhile.

鈥淥ur consultants have done a good job of hearing you all,鈥� he told the commission. 鈥淲e think that by creating this space it will pay off in the long run.鈥�

During a check-in hearing in February to discuss the proposed plaza design, commissioners expressed lingering reservations. They emphasized that they’d like the space to feel less barren and more inviting. Other concerns included providing adequate rain protection and visibility into a planned bike parking area.

In response, revised plans call for awnings that extend the length of the space and relocating the bike parking outside of the plaza to a more visible and accessible location on the west side of a mall truck ramp, said Mark Mikolavich, a Waterleaf Architecture associate. Seating that extends off the stormwater planters and trees were added to enliven the space, he said.

鈥淭he intention was to provide more landscaping variability and also draw in the feel of (Holladay Park),鈥� he said.

The latest plans propose a water feature using rain runoff from an existing downspout on the Macy’s wall facing the plaza. The bike parking on the west side of the plaza was replaced with a covered area that could house food carts.

鈥淲e’ve made some significant moves,鈥� Mikolavich said. 鈥淚 think we’ve created a more flexible space that can incorporate a variety of informal and formal activities.鈥�

Overall, commissioners said they were pleased with the changes, but expressed concerns that the covered area when unoccupied with food carts would turn dark and uninviting. Vice Chairman Ben Kaiser noted that when the trees in nearby planters matured they would create too much shade, darkening the space.

鈥淔ive or six years from now, I don’t think that will be very appealing,鈥� he said.

Commissioner Jeff Simpson suggested replacing birch trees with a less bushy species.

鈥淭o me, the solution may be a change in the variety of trees,鈥� he said. 鈥淢aybe it’s a tall, columnar tree that goes in that planter.鈥�

This suggestion was incorporated into the conditions for approval, along with a commission consensus for removal of one of the planters to make the covered area feel less walled-off.

Commissioner Guenevere Millius said she appreciated the addition of an awning that extends the length of the plaza.

鈥淚 think there was a lot of push from us to provide rain protection and depth, and this is an ingenious solution,鈥� she said.

Commissioner Tad Savinar, who cast the sole vote against approval, said he would like to see the plaza include more public art than a stormwater wall feature.

鈥淎rt is made by artists,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t’s not really public art.鈥�

Kaiser told the development team that the commission has scrutinized the design of the planned plaza because it will be part of the new face of the rapidly redeveloping Lloyd District.

鈥淚t’s in the center of what’s quickly becoming a very important part of our city,鈥� he said. 鈥淚’m kind of trying to make up for years of neglect. This is the biggest positive step forward.鈥�

Construction of the plaza is scheduled to start in January 2016. A contractor has not been selected yet.