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A Phoenix-based developer is moving forward on a senior housing tower that would fill in one of two remaining undeveloped parcels in the north Pearl District.

The Holden of Pearl project team received design advice from the Portland Design Commission for the second time on Thursday. The 16-story podium-and-tower project would bring 224 senior housing units to the northeast corner of Northwest 13th Avenue and Quimby Street.

The full-block property is owned by Hoyt Street Properties, which is poised to sell the parcel to Alliance Residential Co. for development. The property is one of two remaining from the 1989 Hoyt Street Yards master plan.

Hoyt Street Properties’ Tiffany Sweitzer, in an email, stated that the local developer’s role in the project is only as the potential property seller.

鈥淲e would not play a role, but do think it’s needed and will be well accepted in the neighborhood,鈥� Sweitzer stated.

The design from Ankrom Moisan Architects centers on a tower that would rise from a three-story podium on the block’s eastern portion. At 210 feet by 210 feet, the property is larger than a typical Portland block.

Commissioners praised the designers, Ankrom Moisan’s J.P. Emery and Lauren Jones, for their consideration of comments given at the first design advice hearing.

鈥淵ou responded creatively, and we really appreciate it,鈥� Commissioner Zari Santner said.

The tower would be a mix of red brick, metal panel and glass. Bureau of Development Services staffers noted brick is an atypical material on Pearl District towers, which tend to feature glass and concrete expressions. Red brick is often used on lower floors. Some commissioners said the red brick would be acceptable.

Santner urged the project team to tone down the brick’s bright red color as it appeared in renderings.

鈥淗opefully there is something that is more subtle,鈥� she said.

The top of the building needs some architectural detail, Chairwoman Julie Livingston said. The tower terminates in a plain fashion, without any design flourishes.

The entrance lobby would be on 13th Avenue, with a dock. At the building’s center, an internal courtyard would serve memory care patients. Motor vehicle drivers would enter from Quimby Street and navigate a turnaround to drop off residents. Valets would take any vehicles needing to park into a parking ramp.

Holden of Pearl’s exterior would have a number of protruding canopies to shield pedestrians from rain, as design guidelines encourage.

鈥淵ou can’t have too many canopies,鈥� Commissioner Jessica Molinar said. 鈥淭he more canopies, the better.鈥�

The building would be constructed at the far northern edge of the Pearl District. Fields Park lies to the east. The designers anticipate a pedestrian connection through Block 245, a vacant parcel, to the park. Holden of Pearl would join several large buildings nearby, including the Ramona Apartments, The Parker, The Abigail, Modera Pearl and NV.

The property is within the 1996 flood zone.

Holden of Pearl comes from Alliance Residential Co.’s Seattle office. The applicant is Alliance Realty Partners, a limited liability company. Alliance’s Evan Lawler was out of the country and not available for comment.

The project is likely to return before the Portland Design Commission for a land-use review, but it has not yet appeared on future agendas.