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Works Progress Architecture has more work to do before its design for a multifamily building in North Portland can gain approval, design commissioners said.

The Portland Design Commission heard an appeal from the firm on Thursday; a proposal for a five-story, 73-unit building was denied previously. The project, called “,” is being led by Ethos Development LLC. The proposal for property at 5626 to 5632 N. Montana Ave., in the Overlook neighborhood, is scheduled to return before the commission on Aug. 20.

鈥淭he proposal continues to fall short of guidelines,鈥� Commission Chairwoman Julie Livingston said, referring to design guidelines for public realm and quality and permanence.

Works Progress Architecture asked for an exception to allow for oriel window projections 鈥� a signature element for the firm 鈥� despite objections from the Portland Bureau of Transportation. A staff report also raised concerns about window louvers that were 鈥渘ot well integrated into the overall design鈥� and the use of 鈥渇iber cement panels and fiber cement shingles鈥� at ground level.

Facing a likely adverse vote, Works Progress Architecture asked the commissioners not to vote, but to instead hold the record open until the August meeting.

Frustration surfaced both for the project team and city officials. Carrie Strickland, founding principal of Works Progress Architecture, urged the Bureau of Development Services to 鈥渉ave an interactive process with us this time around so we’re not wasting everybody’s time and money.鈥�

Conversations with the BDS need to happen before project drawings are submitted, said Benjamin Nielsen, a senior planner with the bureau.

鈥淚 need that interaction to happen up front and not at the end,鈥� he said.

Livingston acknowledged that the design review process is more challenging now.

鈥淚t’s a clunky process and it’s been made clunkier by the fact that we’re all remote,鈥� she said. 鈥淭his has gotten exponentially harder.鈥�