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A proposed 20-story tower that would rise adjacent to Artists Repertory Theatre in Goose Hollow won praise Thursday from the Portland Design Commission as an elegant and handsome building 鈥� but one that faces significant questions as to how the ground floor will work.

The proposal, from developer Wood Partners of Atlanta and Ankrom Moisan Architects, is for a 304-unit residential tower with 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space and three levels of underground parking with 215 spaces.

Wood Partners proposes to demolish a portion of the theater on the north half of the block at Southwest 15^th and 16^th avenues and Alder and Morrison streets. The remaining portion of the theater building would be remodeled by the theater group. The 305,000-square-foot tower project is valued at $80 million by the Bureau of Development Services.

The residential building 鈥� known as ART Tower 鈥� and the theater will be subject to separate design review hearings. At a design advice meeting for the tower Thursday, design commissioners struggled to envision how the two buildings would work together.

Ankrom Moisan’s design, presented by senior associate Paul Jeffreys, included an alleyway between the two buildings that would be used by residents coming and going and for service access.

Some commissioners said a one-sided alley ending in a wall wouldn’t work. 鈥淧edaling home, I’m not going to go into that space alone,鈥� Chair Julie Livingston said. 鈥淚t’s a scary space.鈥�

The commissioners said if they alley is one-sided, it should be gated. Jeffreys said there could be alternatives, including splitting the alley into two courtyards.

鈥淭he alleyway is the only weak part of this design,鈥� Commissioner Don Vallaster said. 鈥淭he rest of it is working great.鈥�

Development is booming in Goose Hollow, led by the Press Blocks, a massive project from Security Properties and Urban Renaissance Group that includes a 24-story mixed-use apartment tower and an eight-story office building. (City building permits for the Press Blocks are under review). Other projects in the neighborhood include the expansion of Providence Park, an eight-story replacement for Lincoln High School and a seven-story mixed-use multifamily building at 1440 S.W. Taylor St.

Design elements on ART Tower included similar designs for the ground floor and rooftop canopy, creating a mirror effect. A sawtooth window configuration repeats at both levels.

Design commissioners criticized the unusual number of curb cuts 鈥� three each on Southwest 15^th and 16^th avenues, for a total of six. That’s a problem for meeting several guidelines, and would disrupt the pedestrian experience, commissioners said.

鈥淢y expectation is (the Portland Bureau of Transportation) will not allow this to happen,鈥� Livingston said.

Design commissioners differed on whether the residential units should have balconies. Tad Savinar favored balconies, saying residents would need fresh air without having to walk outside. If balconies are included, Savinar said they should be recessed and not hung off the side of the building.

Livingston said the design looked like an office building. 鈥淚 think this reads like a very professional building,鈥� she said.

Commissioners Zari Santner and Sam Rodriguez both suggested balconies would not necessarily improve the design. 鈥淢aybe it doesn’t look super residential, but I don’t have a problem with that,鈥� Rodriguez said.

The project is tentatively set to return to the Design Commission on Aug. 2.