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An affordable housing project proposed for the Gateway area, in Northeast Portland, appears well on its way to approval after a largely positive reception from design commissioners on Thursday.

Northwest Housing Alternatives, a Milwaukie affordable housing organization, is calling for 157 apartment units for residents at 60 percent or below the Portland area’s median family income. The apartments would be a mix of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom configurations.

The Portland Design Commission held a second design advice meeting for the project聽Thursday聽that continued from an initial meeting Nov. 30.

The four-story building would be constructed at聽9747 N.E. Glisan St. and encompass 90,940 square feet. The 1-acre property is bordered by Glisan Street and Irving Street, a low-density residential street. To the east of the site is 99th Avenue; to the west are MAX light-rail tracks and Interstate 205.

The property was most recently purchased in 2006 for $941,280, according to public records.

A new pedestrian path would need to pass behind the building as part of a city requirement intended to improve circulation in large blocks in Gateway.

鈥淭he blocks are huge,鈥� said Grace Jeffreys, a planner with the Bureau of Development Services. 鈥淭his is just a location where there’s a requirement for a pedestrian path.鈥�

The property would also have a community garden.

Design commissioners pushed for an enlarged entrance to the building and better articulation of some of the exterior materials. Planned building materials include brick, metal panels and fiber cement.

Design commissioner Sam Rodriguez said the building’s street frontages were much improved. 鈥淚t has a whimsical quality that works well, and it didn’t before,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think it’s really good.鈥�

The design led by Bill Lanning of MWA Architects features a gabled roof. It has two long sides facing I-205 and the pedestrian path. At the first design advice meeting, commissioners urged Lanning to find ways to break up the mass on the two long sides that stretch approximately 384 feet.

On Thursday, design commissioners said they were pleased with the overall plan.

鈥淚t’s really close,鈥� Tad Savinar said.

Design changes have reduced the number of apartments from 160 to 157 since the first design advice meeting. The project would also offer 10 parking spaces and two loading spaces.

The project team agreed to raise the height of the first floor to the city’s 12-foot minimum to aid the function of the ground-floor canopy.

A narrow, 6-foot building entrance attracted the attention of commissioners, who feared it would be too small for residents to use for practical purposes like putting on their shoes.

鈥淓ntry is super tight,鈥� Commissioner Julie Livingston said. 鈥淚f people are going to be standing there waiting for their ride, there just needs to be more room to stand there and be.鈥�

Plans call for 99 studio units, 51 one-bedroom units and seven two-bedroom units. They would range from 350 square feet to 795 square feet, with 11 built to Americans with Disabilities Act standards.

The Northwest Housing Alternatives project would be the first in the area that would come with a required pedestrian path. Lanning asked the Design Commission if there should be consistent standards for lighting and other aspects. The paths would not be continuous throughout the neighborhood, but confined to each property.

The project will return for a design review hearing in coming weeks. As of Thursday, no date was set yet.

Walsh Construction is serving as general contractor.