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The 35-story Block 216 proposal appeared to move closer to approval after a design review meeting Thursday.

Members of the Portland Design Commission said progress had been made on the mixed-use project’s design coherency and response to the context of the midtown blocks. The changes could lay the groundwork for approval to come at a design review hearing in December.

The design from GBD Architects and developer Walter Bowen’s BPM Real Estate Group has received some criticism from commissioners since a design advice hearing in June. Commissioners pointed to coherency issues between the soaring glass tower and a podium featuring a fa莽ade of white concrete pilaster.

鈥淔or the most part, the big idea that’s guiding the building seems pretty solid,鈥� Commissioner Julie Livingston said. 鈥淗owever, there is a lack of resolution, and there has been from the beginning 鈥� lack of integration of the podium and the base.鈥�

The tower, if built, would be one of the signature Portland buildings of its era based on its size alone. Plans call for more than 1 million square feet of building space, with approximately 250,000 square feet of luxury condos, 177,000 square feet of hotel space, 167,000 square feet of office space and 10,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. The building would also have four and a half floors of underground parking.

A high-end hotelier is on board, GBD Director Phil Beyl said previously.

The building would occupy the block bounded by Southwest Ninth and 10th avenues and Washington and Alder streets, displacing more than 50 food carts and surface parking.

Staff recommended denial Thursday, saying the project did not meet guidelines. That’s a common step while teams work through design issues.

Design commissioners said the applicants had done enough to overcome their objections on a range of issues.

鈥淚’m not going to kill the project because of the color of the pilaster,鈥� Commissioner Zari Santner said.

Santner, the newest design commissioner, had expressed concern that the contrast between the white concrete decorative material on the podium and the darker glass tower was simply too stark.

鈥淢y hope is the contrast is not as stark as it appears in the rendering and the modeling,鈥� she said.

The applicants are seeking an exception to a rule that requires a 12-foot setback along 75 percent of the property line facing the Green Loop. Block 216 is the first project involving the Green Loop 鈥� a city concept for a linear park throughout the Central City that would be friendly to bicycles and pedestrians.

Commissioner Jessica Molinar said she remained concerned about setting a precedent by approving a modification for the first Green Loop project. The applicants have contended that a proposed food hall facing the Green Loop meets the intent of the guidelines.

The applicants are also seeking a 30-foot-wide parking entrance along Washington Street and a 30-foot-wide loading zone on Alder Street. Livingston said that presents a challenge to public realm guidelines that seek to safeguard pedestrians.

鈥淭hat is a lot of real estate given up to trucks and automobiles,鈥� she said.

Commissioner Samuel Rodriguez argued the building needs those vehicle access points to function.

鈥淲e’re going to have buildings of these densities that are going to require these services,鈥� he said.

Commissioners also appeared to be leaning toward granting an exception to rules that require roofs to be 100 percent eco-roofs. About 30 percent of the proposal is covered by eco-roof elements that would filter stormwater atop the podium. Architects and some commissioners said the city’s eco-roof guidelines are simply unworkable at the tower’s height of 460 feet. Winds at that height can dry out soils and move material, they said.

鈥淔rankly, I think there needs to be a little bit of a revision (of design guidelines) for eco-roofs on high-rises,鈥� Rodriguez said.

Commissioner Don Vallaster agreed.

鈥淔lying trees are bad,鈥� he said.

The project is scheduled to return before the Design Commission on Dec. 13.