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The Portland Design Commission on Thursday gave its first design advice on plans for the Broadway Corridor 鈥� a massive redevelopment effort near the southwest end of the Broadway Bridge, at the site of a former U.S. Postal Service facility. Commissioners gave mixed reviews on the public realm aspect of the plan, praising the change it would bring to the area but taking issue with the intended use of the city’s Green Loop.

The 4-million-square-foot mixed-use project is expected to consist of housing, commercial space and open park space, and link the Pearl District to Old Town. The development is expected to cost between $1 billion and $1.5 billion.

Prosper Portland‘s endeavor, designed by ZGF Architects, is intended to accommodate 4,000 jobs and 3,100 residents 鈥� with 25 percent of the housing being affordable units. The design is meant to be inclusive for all neighborhood residents, with spaces where people can 鈥渏ust be鈥� and not need a specific task or purpose.

Apart from buildings, the designs of which will be revealed at a later commission meeting, the space is to be dominated by an expanse of open green land in the center. Situated on an incline, the open space will become a park of sorts, framing nearby Union Station and other historic buildings as viewpoints.

The Green Loop intersects at the top and cuts through the open space, running in an inclined zig-zag pattern where cyclists and pedestrians can stop and take in new views of the city.

鈥淚 think the variety of street sections you’re proposing is great,鈥� Commissioner Jessica Molinar said. 鈥淚t really enhances the beauty of Union Station.鈥�

Commissioners were mostly on board with the general development plan, and agreed that it would be a good use of space that currently is going to waste. They also said that creating a connection between Old Town and the Pearl District is important, and that enhancing the area to make it feel safer should be a priority.

The Green Loop, however, was universally rejected by commissioners as unsafe and not well thought out. While the design team said the loop’s placement was intended to 鈥渁ctivate鈥� the open space, commissioners weren’t receptive to that idea.

鈥淚, for the life of me, don’t know how pedestrians going through there and bicyclists are going to activate this park,鈥� Commissioner Zari Santner said. 鈥淲e just have to take a leap of faith right now to accept that it would be something wonderful.鈥�

Santner suggested that the loop run alongside the site on Northwest Ninth Avenue, and said she doesn’t understand why it’s important for it to take up open green space.

Commissioner Don Vallaster said the design team seemed to be presenting the loop as the focal point of the project, when it should only complement the rest of the design.

鈥淲e need to take a serious look at alternatives,鈥� he said.

Commissioner Samuel Rodriguez said Prosper Portland and ZGF will have to come up with alternatives or a successful defense of the Green Loop ramp at the project’s next design advice request hearing, which is scheduled for July 18. At that time the team will also submit renderings for the project’s buildings.