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In a tentative vote, the Portland City Council unanimously upheld an appeal to deny the proposal for Lincoln Property Company’s Fremont Apartments, planned in the Pearl District between Northwest Naito Parkway and the Willamette River. The council will hold a final vote at 11 a.m. on April 4.

TVA Architects‘ design, with several modifications, received the Portland Design Commission‘s approval in December with a 3-1 vote. But the Pearl District Neighborhood Association (PDNA) appealed that decision, and got its opportunity to present arguments at a public hearing before the council in February.

鈥淏ecause this is an iconic location, and because this building will set the standard for that location, I want us to set that standard very high,鈥� Mayor Ted Wheeler said.

Commissioner Amanda Fritz, who previously served on the city’s planning commission, said the proposed building’s height and its impact on views of the Fremont Bridge from Fields Park were not relevant to her decision. She brought up several concerns, including the height of the rooftop mechanical equipment, the reduced width of vertically-hung bicycle racks and the narrow width of the greenway by the building.

Overall, she said, plans do not meet city criteria with the modifications requested.

Wheeler and Commissioner Nick Fish agreed that the greenway in the proposed design would be too narrow.

鈥淲hat we do here with this development will set the standard for the rest of the development that will take place along that corridor,鈥� Wheeler said. 鈥淚t is my belief that we need to aggressively protect the greenway.鈥�

Fish mentioned the emerging greenway in the South Waterfront District as an example of a wider one, with dedicated spaces for bicyclists and pedestrians.

鈥淵ou can make a very persuasive case that the fact that the buildings are set back further enhances the experience of the neighborhood, of the residents, and of the whole feeling of the emerging neighborhood,鈥� Fish said, adding that the greenway in the Fremont Apartments design is unsatisfactory because of the narrow 鈥渃hoke point鈥� at the southern end. 鈥淎s someone who likes to ride his bike down by the river 鈥� that is not a successful greenway.鈥�

Tim Wybenga of TVA Architects stated in an email that the project team has no specific plans on how to move forward at this point, but is looking at all options.

鈥淔or the project to have gone through all of that process and get rejected by council is extremely disheartening and frustrating,鈥� he stated.

Wheeler noted that any development along that corridor will likely be tall.

鈥淲e are a growing city; there will be more height and there will be more density,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 believe this design team and this development team has the capacity and spades to be able to deliver a building that will meet their objectives as well as meet the community objectives and be celebrated for many, many generations to come.鈥�