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The design of a new six-story, mixed-use building planned for the Alphabet District isn’t approved yet, but SERA Architects principal Kurt Schultz said he appreciated input given by the Portland Design Commission at its meeting last week.

Urban Asset Advisors is developing the project at 1502 N.W. 19th Ave. Plans call for ground-floor retail space, 90 residential units, mechanized vehicle parking and a second-floor outdoor courtyard.

Most of the discussion at the meeting focused on use of the ground floor, Schultz said, including whether the main entry should be on Northwest 19th Avenue or Quimby Street, and where most of the retail activity should be concentrated.

鈥淭hey wanted more retail from the corner stretching down 19th Avenue and possibly moving the lobby to Quimby, the quieter street, and maybe move the fitness room,鈥� he said.

At the meeting, city planner Staci Monroe told the commission that staff had concerns about the use of Viroc, cement-bonded particle board, as the primary building material.

鈥淎bout the composition material, Viroc, a cement/wood board, staff has concerns with quality in such large fields,鈥� she said. 鈥淪tucco would be an appropriate alternative.鈥�

Schultz said the commission settled on recommending that Viroc be used only in the second-floor courtyard and that metal panes be used for the ground-floor facades.

The courtyard will also include stormwater treatment, Schultz said.

The ground-floor units may be live/work spaces. Close to 50 parking spaces, most of them mechanized, will be provided inside the building. Parking for 120 bicycles will be located inside as well.

Amenities will include 4-foot-by-10-foot balconies for 16 units and Juliet balconies for 19 units.

The original proposal called for sliding glass doors to serve the Juliet balconies. Schultz said such doors would provide better waterproofing and more interior space for the smaller apartments.

However, Schultz said that when plans come back before the commission for a second design review on March 3, inward-opening French doors will serve the Juliet balconies 鈥� as preferred by commissioners.

Another point of discussion was the location of the building’s transformer. Schultz said the Portland Bureau of Transportation turned down a request for a curb extension that would have allowed the transformer to be put in a sidewalk vault.

After PBOT issued its decision, Portland General Electric agreed to allow installation of the transformer inside the building, Schultz said, but the design team is appealing to PBOT to reconsider its decision.

鈥淲e’ve asked for a design exception and are waiting for a final answer,鈥� he said.

Commissioner Julie Livingston indicated that she favored use of the in-ground vault for the transformer.

鈥淚f the transformer relocates to the right-of-way, that space would be (used for) a fitness area,鈥� she said.

Schultz said he hopes PBOT will reconsider.

鈥淭hat would be an additional 12 (square) feet currently being dedicated to the transformer,鈥� he said.

Overall, Schultz said the hearing was a positive experience and that he expects to make changes to reflect staff suggestions and the commissioners’ input.

鈥淭his was our first hearing and we were really pleased with the design commissioners’ advice, which followed pretty closely with the staff report,鈥� he said.