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The Portland Design Commission on Thursday got its first look at plans for the new Westwind Apartments: a seven-story, 100-unit affordable housing structure in Old Town Chinatown.

The project, backed by the Portland Housing Bureau and housing operator Central City Concern, would replace a decrepit, single room occupancy (SRO) building completed in 1903 with a modern one designed by Works Progress Architecture. The existing building at 333 N.W. Sixth Ave. would be demolished.

Works Progress Architecture brought a sleek, contemporary design to Thursday’s hearing. The L-shaped building would fit tightly on the quarter-block lot. The project team faces a number of site challenges, including an ongoing issue with the Portland Bureau of Transportation regarding the public right-of-way and whether an easement or a major encroachment would be required.

The building would have 70 short-term SRO units and 30 studio apartments. There would also be offices for Central City Concern and community spaces.

The exterior would have dark metal panels. The design features a prominent corner at Northwest Sixth Avenue and Flanders Street anchored by trees growing from box-shaped projections. Two loading areas would be located off of Flanders Street.

Design commissioners said the building should respond to its context: Old Town Chinatown is one of the oldest neighborhoods in Oregon, with a unique collection of low-slung brick masonry buildings that date back more than a century. That presents a different challenge for Works Progress Architecture 鈥� a firm known for cutting-edge contemporary architecture in Portland’s commercial corridors.

鈥淭he thing about the buildings Works brings in 鈥� they are a meta-context,鈥� Design Commission Chairwoman Julie Livingston said. 鈥淭here is a body of work that you own around the city that is part of that. I would like to see 鈥� I will see 鈥� how you ultimately land one of your buildings in such a strong context.鈥�

Design commissioners focused on the proposed materials, including exterior metal paneling.

鈥淭he metal panel for me is a tough sell because there is masonry on pretty much every building in the neighborhood,鈥� Commissioner Jessica Molinar said.

While the project team must account for neighborhood context, it also is working with a strict budget.

鈥淥bviously there is a cost consideration when it comes to masonry, and we don’t talk about money in the hearing room, but there are more affordable solutions besides brick,鈥� Livingston said.

The proposal doesn’t need to mimic its historic neighbors, Commissioner Sam Rodriguez said.

鈥淐ontextually, it’s a very interesting problem, because this is a very old neighborhood,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 don’t think we need to do Disneyland, Mickey Mouse copies of what’s there.鈥�

Commissioners also probed the design team on the tree-sprouting projections.

鈥淲e have a hard time keeping landscaping alive under overhangs,鈥� Brian McCarter said.

The projections should work as architectural elements with or without trees, commissioners said.

The Westwind is a key affordable housing project for the city. The Housing Bureau in November 2018 used tax-increment financing to purchase the property from a Newberg couple for $3 million. The new building would be constructed using money from the city’s $258.4 million housing bond that was approved by voters in November 2016. Multnomah County聽has pledged to contribute $4 million to the project.

The project team is expected to return before the Design Commission later this month.