91ÊÓƵ

A weekly list of highlights from commercial land use review activity in Portland by Permitting & Development in the prior week.

Early assistance – application                              
Address: Southeast Portland
Applicant: Lora Lillard of Portland Parks and Recreation 
Owner: city of Portland

Early assistance is being sought for a proposal to design and build a playground with natural play features at Midland Park. The playground would be located along the main pathway connecting Southeast Yamhill Street to the Multnomah County Midland Library. Lighting would be updated throughout the park, including at the playground and along all key pathways. Major pathways would be rebuilt to current accessibility standards. Accessible amenities such as picnic tables and benches would be included. The edges of the nature path would be delineated from more active uses.

Early assistance – application                              
Address: 4304 N. Vancouver Ave.
Applicant: Chris Hagerman of The Bookin Group 
Owner: First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church

This proposal is to replace the First African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church building with a five-story, approximately 32,371-square-foot building. It would hold retail and community service (church) space on the first floor and a total of 44 affordable housing units on upper floors. A surface parking lot with seven parking spaces would be accessible from North Skidmore Street under the building’s east end.

Early assistance – pending
Address: 3800 N.E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
Applicant: Michael Perso of William / Kaven Architecture 
Owner: MLK Failing 1 LLC

The applicant seeks to keep building designs intact and pursue regulatory entitlements that will allow the active building and minor improvement permits to be issued as is. The following entitlements are required: new type II or type IX design review approval for each project, new or reactivated PBOT public works permit for frontage improvements at the corner lot, a PBOT design exception for a 12-foot pedestrian row corridor in lieu of a 15-foot one now required, and new or reactivated mechanical permits for each project.

Type 1 procedure (historic resource review) – pending
Address: 221 N.W. 21st Ave.
Applicant: Jaylene Paulus of Integrity Signs Oregon of Salem 
Owner: David Harris of Charlotte, North Carolina

Plans call for installing a halo illuminated wall sign on the east elevation for Bank of America. This is a non-contributing resource in the historic district.

Early assistance – pending
Address: North Portland
Applicant: Robin Wilcox of Portland Parks and Recreation 
Owner: city of Portland

George Park is being redesigned with updates of amenities – playground, walkway, lighting, benches, picnic tables, drinking fountain – and the addition of a basketball court. Stormwater will be managed on-site either through planted infiltration basins or dry wells. Water and electrical services exist on the site; a dry well may be sufficient for a portion of the site.

Source: Portland Permitting & Development 

See also:

• $4.6 million health care facility in Portland building permits | March 23, 2026