91视频

A smaller footprint is likely for an initially proposed 23-story high-rise in Portland’s Pearl District. Plans presented Monday to the Historic Landmarks Commission were significantly downscaled.

Fields Holdings‘ development for 555 N.W. Park Ave., the Philip Apartments, would be an addition to the eastern half of the historic Honeyman Hardware block that consists of the Bindery Building, the Metro Building and the Cotter Building. In all schematics proposed, the entire quarter-block Metro Building and a portion of the Bindery Building would be demolished.

Monday marked the project team’s second design advice hearing before the Historic Landmarks Commission. In February, commissioners called the 23-story tower design 鈥渙verwhelming,鈥� and its glass curtain fa莽ade 鈥渘ot contextual.鈥�

The team returned with three new design options. The preferred one would be an eight-story, half-block addition with a metal and brick exterior that would hover above the two-story Bindery Building. The addition would have a penthouse suite on top.

The other two consisted of a 19-story quarter-block scheme and a 16-story version of the original design presented.

鈥淐learly,鈥� Bob Thompson, applicant and TVA Architects principal said, 鈥渨e were shooting for the sky on the first go around.鈥�

The difference in the two proposals is immense; the new preferred proposal is 46 percent shorter and has 33 percent less floor area ratio and 32 percent less leasable space. Also, the number of residential units was dropped from 337 to about 200.

Public comment favored this option. However, commissioners jumped back and forth between elements in the preferred option and the quarter-block scheme, which wouldn’t have a base; instead, that 204-foot-tall structure would rise from the ground.

Yet after three and a half hours of discussion on Monday, little consensus was reached among commissioners on a direction forward for the design.

The project’s developer, Eran Fields, stated that the team will not return for a third design advice hearing. If the project is to advance, clarity is needed from the commissioners, he said.

鈥淲e took an enormous amount of time and effort to get to this point,鈥� Fields said. 鈥淢aybe that doesn’t mean much. But for us it means a lot, and we try to come back with a building that you can’t possibly tell me that if someone bikes by, walks by, drives by, this building once built, they’re not going to be impressed.鈥�

Thompson added that the project team is not in the business of gambling.

鈥淭here’s a lot of money that(‘s) spent in advancing these ideas,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, the clarity is critical.鈥�

At the end of the meeting, in round-robin style, commissioners offered their views. Commissioner Andrew Smith said all three buildings on the block should be treated like they are all different. Commissioner Peggy Moretti strongly disagreed with that, stating that the preferred option is a good path forward. Commissioner Kimberly Moreland said the preferred option works well.

However, Commissioner Matthew Roman said there are preferred option aspects that he could not support. The quarter-block schematic 鈥� although taller 鈥� is more successful, he said. Commission Chair Kristen Minor said there should be more of a mix between the quarter-block design and the preferred option.

Next up for the development team is a land use review hearing.