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New ideas are being proposed to incorporate a contributing structure in Portland’s Alphabet Historic District in a new development, and the Historic Landmarks Commission weighed in during a design advice hearing on Monday.

Commissioners praised the project team’s plan to preserve the 90-year-old Buck-Prager Building as housing, but questioned whether two new buildings planned nearby would be complementary to the neighborhood.

The Buck-Prager Building, at 1727 N.W. Hoyt St., has sat mostly vacant since 2007. In 2014, developer Gerding Edlen sought to tear it down and construct an apartment building in its place. However, the Portland City Council struck down that proposal, siding with neighbors who contended that the former Women’s Hospital of Portland was too important to the historic district to allow demolition.

Now Northwest Housing Alternatives is planning a multifamily project in which the Buck-Prager Building would be renovated to hold 17 senior housing units. Also, a new four-story building to the south would hold 32 senior housing units, and a new six-story building to the north would hold 116 workforce housing units.

鈥淚 am really excited to see the applicants making a few moves,鈥� Commission Vice Chairwoman Kristen Minor said.

Carleton Hart Architecture is designing the project.

鈥淲e are maintaining the historic structure, which is in the center of the site, so right off the bat that poses a lot of challenges to design around,鈥� said Brendan Sanchez, an architect at Carleton Hart Architecture. 鈥淲e are trying to enhance the building and the district.鈥�

Project plans call for seismic upgrades to the Buck-Prager Building. Also, all of the units would be affordable for people making 60 percent of the area median income. To meet those goals in a financially feasible project, the project team says the six-story tower needs to be 66 feet.

鈥淚 am not sure this can be compatible,鈥� Commissioner Matthew Roman said. 鈥淚t may not be possible to get the number of units to make it work.鈥�

Numerous residents testified against the project on Monday. Complaints ranged from excessive height to inadequate parking.

鈥淚 appreciate that this is a complicated project that we have brought forward,鈥� said Stephen McMurtrey, housing development director with Northwest Housing Alternatives.

Despite the issues raised, designers still believe they can present a design able to gain the commission’s approval.

鈥淚 can’t say that I can outline exactly right now what we feel like the path forward looks like,鈥� said Michelle Black, a project architect at Carleton Hart Architecture. 鈥淚 do think we still have a path forward.鈥�

No date is set yet for the project team’s next appearance before the commission.