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Mill Creek Residential Trust‘s massive Modera Main Street proposal 鈥� 17 stories, 434,720 square feet, 336 apartments, 403 parking spaces 鈥� faced significant questions from the Portland Design Commission on Thursday, but eventual approval may be all but assured.

The Design Commission held an initial review hearing on Thursday, after two previous design advice meetings. At least three commissioners signaled they may vote against the proposal, and a fourth, Don Vallaster, said he wants to see changes before voting in favor.

The multifamily colossus designed by Ankrom Moisan Architects for the Florida-based developer is planned for a vacant Goose Hollow lot that neighbors the Multnomah Athletic Club. The building would be linked to the MAC via a tunnel, and have parking for club users as well as building residents.

The Design Commission’s chairwoman, Julie Livingston, said that even if the project were rejected by design commissioners, it would surely be approved by the housing-friendly City Council.

鈥淲e have not won on this issue, ever,鈥� Livingston said, referring to height and scale concerns. 鈥淭here have been several appeals to commission based on building height and building scale 鈥� FAR (floor-area ratio) 鈥� and Design Commission has gotten no traction on this issue.鈥�

Goose Hollow has been a locus of growth, aided by accommodating zoning thanks to the Central City 2035 plan. Projects such as ART Tower, Sawbuck and Press Blocks stand to add hundreds of multifamily units to the neighborhood.

Developers have targeted the close-in neighborhood, which enjoys walking proximity to downtown and transit options including a MAX light-rail line. Major institutional projects 鈥� including a new Lincoln High School and a Providence Park expansion 鈥� also have moved forward.

Goose Hollow’s explosive growth has raised the ire of residents, who are watching the neighborhood with historic Victorians become much denser. Several residents testified against the project on Thursday.

鈥淭he sheer size, height and mass of the building are just going to destroy the neighborhood,鈥� said Chrys Martin, who was one of several MAC members who opposed the project despite the athletic club’s agreement to use Modera Main’s parking.

Rachel Clark, daughter of former Mayor Bud Clark, said Modera Main would be one of Portland’s largest residential buildings and break a decades-old promise to not further expand MAC parking.

Erin Winn, a counselor, said she and her husband are looking to move.

鈥淲e can’t imagine staying here once the neighborhood changes so drastically with this tower right out the front window,鈥� she said.

Winn said she values quiet in the neighborhood because she counsels trauma victims.

Modera Main would occupy a full block bounded by Southwest 19th and 20th avenues, and Main and Madison streets.

Some testifiers complained that Sam Rodriguez, managing director of Mill Creek Residential Trust in Portland, also serves on Design Commission. Rodriguez did not participate in the hearing, but that did not satisfy some opponents who expressed concern that commissioners could be biased toward their fellow commissioner. Mill Creek is one of the most prolific multifamily developers in the city.

Livingston said she would vote against the project, as presented Thursday, because it fails to activate its Main Street frontage.

鈥淲e are allowing a building to go up that acknowledges the nothingness of this block of Main,鈥� she said. 鈥淎ll four of these frontages need to be active to be a strong response to public realm guidelines. I feel strongly enough about this that it will cause me to vote no.鈥�

Livingston praised other aspects of the project, calling the landscape plan 鈥渓ovely.鈥�

Commissioners said the design team had made strides in reducing the building’s apparent size since the design advice meetings.

鈥淚 think they’ve made improvements in sculpting the mass a bit more,鈥� Commissioner Chandra Robinson said.

The building fits in an increasingly dense Goose Hollow, Commissioner Zari Santner said.

鈥淎s incongruous as this may appear, from the perspective of looking at the guidelines, I think this is contextual.鈥�

Commissioners also scrutinized vinyl window frames planned for the fa莽ade. Isaac Johnson, managing principal at Ankrom Moisan Architects, said the frames had been used successfully in other Portland buildings.

鈥淭hese are high-quality products,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 think they look very good, and they are a good value.鈥�

The project team will return for a brief check-in on Aug. 19. That’s likely to be followed by a final meeting and a vote on Sept. 2.

Johnson said the project team is eager to apply for permits soon.

鈥淲e need to lock our design in,鈥� he said.

Johnson added that architects would revisit the building’s Main Street frontage design.

鈥淲e have heard you and we need to take a look at it and see if we can make any improvements,鈥� he said.