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LEVER Architecture‘s next design for a mass-timber building in Portland is planned for the site of a closed post office in the Northwest District.

Design commissioners got their first look Thursday at the four-story, 40,000-square-foot proposal. It would use mass timber and brick in a contemporary office building for Thesis, a local marketing and creative services agency.

Commissioners said they liked the design presented by LEVER principal Thomas Robinson.

鈥淭he architecture response and the landscape response are both sensitively thought out,鈥� Commissioner Brian McCarter said.

However, commissioners warned Robinson that he could not expect a requested modification to minimum standards for floor area ratio (FAR). The proposed building would have a 1.2:1 ratio 鈥� below the minimum 1.5:1 ratio. The zoning regulation ensures a minimum density for projects built within the Central City.

鈥淢inimum FAR is something Design Commission has fought hard for,鈥� Chairwoman Julie Livingston said. 鈥淚t’s asking a lot to ask for a modification on minimum FAR. That’s probably an uphill struggle.鈥�

Reaching the minimum with the current design would require a site adjustment, the project team and commissioners said.

鈥淔ind a way to redefine the site and get to the floor area ratio,鈥� Livingston told the design team.

Lango Hansen is on board as landscape architect. Patrick Kessi’s PHK Development is the project’s developer.

Initial plans also proposed a one-story office building on the property at 1706 N.W. 24th Ave. However, Robinson said the project team may prefer to place food carts there, potentially with an eye toward adding a larger building on that portion of the site in the future.

Commissioners said the property might be better served with food carts than a one-story building that is not meant for the long term.

鈥淭he one-story building on Thurman (Street) seems like a lot of money for very little gain,鈥� Livingston said. 鈥淚f the real plan is to do real development at a time that has not been identified, then stick to something that is easy to take away.鈥�

McCarter agreed.

鈥淚 lean towards the food cart solution, which leaves the option to build a more substantial building in the future,鈥� he said.

Thursday’s meeting was a design advice hearing meant to provide initial guidance. The project could proceed to a Type II design review, which would be overseen by Bureau of Development Services staff.

Also on Thursday:

Sizable project on track

Design commissioners appeared to be on the verge of approving Modera Main Street, a 17-story, 434,720-square-foot apartment building planned for Goose Hollow.

Commissioners did not vote on the Mill Creek Residential Trust proposal, and it is scheduled to return Sept. 2. Several commissioners said the latest designs from Ankrom Moisan Architects had made progress on reducing a dead zone on Main Street, relocating mechanical ventilation and other issues.

鈥淚 think they were very responsive,鈥� Commissioner Don Vallaster said.

Livingston said she would vote no on the project because it still does not meet design guidelines. Portions of the Main Street frontage appear destined to be storage, she said.

鈥淚 so hope that when this building is constructed I am proved wrong,鈥� she said.

Livingston was the only commissioner who still opposed the project design in a straw poll. Four other commissioners said the project would earn their vote of approval at a future meeting.

Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly described developer Patrick Kessi’s role in the office project.