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The Block 290 mixed-use project continued its long and twisting path through the Portland Design Commission on Thursday. At the request of the Northwest District Association, the commission agreed to keep the record open for seven days to allow submission of additional testimony.

With more time granted for responses and rebuttals, Guardian Real Estate Services‘ Block 290 project won’t return before the Design Commission until Aug. 3. City staff has already recommended approval.

As designed, the horseshoe-shaped building would have two seven-story elevations and one four-story elevation with a rooftop amenity. The elevations would range between 57 feet and 79 feet. Retail space would occupy the ground floor, with residential units above. The floor area ratio (FAR) would be 2.7:1.

The design process has already dragged on for more than two years. The site at 1417 N.W. 20th Ave. is complex because it falls within the Con-way Master Plan. It requires that a public square be included in the project. The development team believes LRS Architects‘ design of the square meets requirements.

鈥淲e wanted a flexible square,鈥� said聽Mauricio Villarreal, a principal with聽Place Studio, the project’s landscape architect. 鈥淲e wanted to create a square that is lively and engaging and entertaining, and has whimsy if you will 鈥� a place that people want to come with their family, with their friends from out of town.鈥�

Villarreal said he believes the 16,008-square-foot space would be comfortable for 50 people or 100 people. Also, an arcade would provide 2,922 additional square feet.

Neighbors have a decidedly different view of the square.聽Karen Karlsson, president of the Northwest District Association (NWDA) disputed nearly every assertion the development team made. The group claimed that only the portion of the square that had a view of the sky should count toward the Con-way Master Plan requirement for a public square. Project developers also counted square footage under an arcade to boost the total.

鈥淭he development needs to be this large in the opinion of the developer and the Design Commission,鈥� Karlsson said. 鈥淵ou can’t fit that development in the envelope of that particular block, so something has to give.鈥�

Neighbors were also upset with a 15-foot encroachment into a public right-of-way that was necessitated by the redesigned square.

鈥淚 believe the 15 feet here is sacred ground,鈥� said Ron Walters, former president of the NWDS. 鈥淏lock 290 was the core of the master plan. It was the fundamental idea of not building 3:1 (FAR) throughout the entire 17 acres.鈥�

There was even some disagreement within the association about whether the group should even work with the developer.

鈥淣WDA, I think made the mistake of opening Pandora’s box and trying to work in good faith with the developer,鈥� Walters said.

In the end, commissioners seemed to reach a consensus that the redesigned square both met Con-way Master Plan requirements and followed city’s design guidelines. They also believed that other projects featuring more dubious uses of public space had been approved.

鈥淭o me this seems like an infinitely better situation than over at the New Seasons (Market),鈥� Commission Chairman聽David Wark said.

Commissioners did express some concerns regarding planned bench types and placement, and other building materials. They encouraged developers to explore small adjustments before they return in August.

Appeal of Press Blocks approval on tap

The Portland City Council will hear an appeal of the Portland Design Commission’s approval of the Press Blocks project on Aug. 10 at 2 p.m.

The Goose Hollow Foothills League on May 31 filed paperwork to appeal the Design Commission’s approval granted May 5.

The project, planned as three buildings over one and a half city blocks, would include office, retail and residential space. The development would occupy lots at 817 S.W. 17th Ave. and 1621 S.W. Taylor St.