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Portland City Council has granted an appeal by the architects of a Pearl District affordable housing building against conditions imposed on the project by the city’s Design Commission. The proposed building will be located at Northwest 14^th Avenue and Raleigh Street and is being designed by Salazar Architect and LRS Architects for affordable developer Innovative Housing Inc.

The 12-story project was approved by the design commission in September with multiple conditions of approval, one of which was the subject of the appeal on the grounds that it would add significantly to the project’s cost. Commissioners wanted a set of oriel windows at the building’s fifth and sixth floors moved up to connect with another group on the upper three floors, creating a singular oriel.

鈥淭his comes down to a difference of opinion about two design choices,鈥� Stevenson said. 鈥淥ne of the options presents a real increase in cost to an affordable housing development that is struggling to stay on budget. We’re appealing to you, our city council, to ask that you prioritize affordable housing over aesthetic nuance, and let us move forward with a project that will provide crucial affordable housing to families in Portland that need it today.鈥�

Speaking for the design commission, member Julia Molinar read from a letter prepared by commissioners arguing that the project should be held to the same standards as others.

鈥淚t’s significant that the proposal fell short across width and breadth of its response to design guidelines,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t is the design commission’s decision that the proposed development does not need to be a model citizen, but it does need to demonstrate a willingness to participate in civic life.鈥�

In a 4-0 vote to grant the appeal, with Commissioner Steve Novick absent, Mayor Charlie Hales and city commissioners were quick to praise the Design Commission for its work.

鈥淚’m going to be very glad to support the appeal,鈥� said Commissioner Amanda Fritz, 鈥渨hile also honoring the good work that the design commission is doing.鈥�