Crews have broken ground on a 144-unit affordable housing complex in Washington County.

Related Northwest‘s Terrace Glen Apartments will be in Metzger, a census-designated place near Washington Square. The project – the developer’s first in the suburban county – is being paid for in part with Metro housing bond dollars.

There will be a couple of four-story buildings around an inner courtyard. Apartments will range from studios to four-bedroom units. Rents will be from $483 to $1,408 per month.

Terrace Glen will be the fourth affordable housing project in Washington County to benefit from the Metro bond. The funds are administered by the county’s Housing Authority.

“It’s affordable housing projects like Terrace Glen that alleviate the burden of housing instability and increasing rent costs for our community members,” Washington County Board Chairwoman Kathryn Harrington stated in a news release. “Terrace Glen is going to make a big difference in the lives of 144 families.”

Related Northwest is part of New York-based real estate giant Related Companies. Related Northwest has previously worked with partners such as Central City Concern and the Portland Housing Bureau. Related has previously completed Cedar Commons in outer Southeast Portland. Crescent Court Apartments is on track to wrap up in Southeast Portland in May and Cathedral Village Apartments in St. Johns is set to open in late summer.

“With the lack of supply of affordable housing, we are proud to be able to bring such an integral development to the community of Tigard,” stated Ann Silverberg, CEO of Related Northwest.

Terrace Glen pairs housing with on-site services. The Immigrant and Refugee Community Organization will support self-sufficiency, EngAGE Northwest will provide arts education to the multigenerational population and HomePlate Youth Services will provide services to homeless youth between 18 and 24 years old.

Walsh Construction is serving as general contractor for Terrace Glen. C2K Architecture designed the development. GLI Advisors is managing construction.

In addition to the housing bond, financing is being provided by Citibank, US Bank, Metro (via its Transit Oriented Development Program) and Oregon Housing and Community Services.

Construction is scheduled for completion in June 2023.

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Rookie and veteran architects alike took to the stage Friday in front of a packed auditorium in Portland State University’s Shattuck Hall to discuss personal challenges related to diversity in architecture, and how the next generation may change the industry landscape, which has traditionally been dominated by white men.

The six-person panel event, organized by students of the university’s School of Architecture, was the last of “Fridays@4” – a series of discussions between students and industry professionals.

Leading the veteran charge on Friday was Bill Hart, co-founder of Carleton Hart Architecture. As he explained, there have been challenges in architecture related to race and gender since he got his start, with clients through the years questioning his skill level and professional success. He stressed the benefits of a diverse team, which provides varied perspectives and strategies.

“Firms don’t recognize that everyone can contribute to putting the project together,” he said. “What we need is to give folks an opportunity to try.”

Nicolai Kruger, who owns an eponymous studio in Portland, has 15 years of experience in architecture, most of it in Japan. She said the process of learning Japanese and teaching her colleagues English helped develop empathy for cultural differences, and led to a more cohesive environment.

Now an adjunct assistant professor at PSU, Kruger said she is encouraged by her students, the majority of whom are women. In a predominantly-male industry like architecture, new professionals should apply to more diverse firms to make a statement to the less-inclusive ones, she said.

“Architecture is traditionally kind of an old boys’ club, and Portland is kind of an old boys’ town,” Kruger said. “I think we need to put the old boys’ club on notice.”

Octavio Gutierrez, an associate at Mahlum Architects, said individuals with diverse backgrounds should advocate for the benefit their viewpoints bring, which many modern companies will value.

“Take your talent where the talent’s welcome,” he said.

Cosette Hardman, who earned a master’s degree from PSU last year, is currently nominated for a secretary position on the World Deaf Architecture Board of Directors. People with disabilities can be even further marginalized in the industry, she said, and accommodations for an employee’s needs can depend on a given company’s size and willingness.

“There’s always a lot of accessibility we need to have to get the job or even get the job interview,” Hardman said. “A significant obstacle will probably be the budget of the firms.”

Designer Kayla Anderson of Salazar Architect said she is fortunate to work at a firm that values communication and is willing to listen to any issues an employee might experience because of gender or racial differences. That equality won’t be attainable until everyone in the industry begins thinking like this, she added.

“Until we decide that these issues are important, we’re never going to find a solution,” Anderson said. “We need to start advocating for everyone’s rights.”

Another unique perspective came from Dena Davani, an intern at C2K Architecture who grew up under a strict Iranian regime. Everyone wants change, and it could be achieved if citizens took action themselves, she said.

She said she believes the situation is the same in architecture. Regardless of one’s diverse challenges, Davani said he or she has a responsibility on a personal level to enact change.

“Inclusivity does exist; that’s why we’re here,” she said. “As an individual you have a lot of power to choose what you want to be involved in.”

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Bids are now being sought from subcontractors for work on a planned 46-unit apartment building being built by general contractor LMC Construction in the 2700 block of Southeast Belmont Street, on the Buckman neighborhood’s eastern edge.

The five-story structure, designed by Portland firm C2K Architecture for developer Green Light Development, will be solely residential. The scope of work includes demolition of an existing structure, site development and right-of-way improvements. There will also be 13 surface parking stalls.

The ground floor will have four walk-up apartments, long-term bicycle storage and the main entry lobby. Levels two through five will feature a mix of studios, one-bedroom units and two-bedroom units. Finally, the fifth floor will host a communal amenity space for tenants.

LMC Construction is accepting sub-bids through 5 p.m. on Oct. 15 in the following trades: concrete, masonry, metals, woods and plastics and composites, thermal and moisture protection, openings, finishes, specialties, equipment, furnishings, and conveying equipment.

Project plans can be obtained from LMC Construction by calling 503-646-0521, or sending a fax to 503-646-6823. Questions may be directed to LMC Construction Director of Pre-Construction Services Scott Dekker at 503-646-0521 or scottd@lmcconstruction.com.

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Timing has heavily influenced development of a 10-story, 150-foot-tall mid-rise proposed for 930 N.W. 14th Ave., in the Pearl District. Killian Pacific‘s project made its first appearance before the Portland Design Commission on Thursday.

“This is probably the first time in history where the applicant doesn’t want to go fast,” Killian Pacific Vice President of Development Adam Tyler said. “Slower is better for us. We are in no rush.”

However, when the developer submitted a proposal before Portland’s inclusionary zoning rule took effect, a development clock started that ends in March 2018. If by that time Killian Pacific and Bora Architects don’t have an approved design, project plans would have to be refiled with the city and start from scratch.

“The timing of the application was to get vested and get in prior to (inclusionary zoning),” Tyler said. “We also have a number of tenant obligations that we have to respect.”

An existing retail structure on the site would be demolished to allow new construction. Many of the retail tenants have long-term leases with options to renew, according to Tyler. That could delay a portion of the project for years.

The development plan calls for two phases to complete one building that would have two towers connected by an exterior staircase. In total, the building would have 41,345 square feet of ground-floor retail space and 143 residential units.

However, with no timeline for completion of the second tower, commissioners were leery of reviewing a project that could result with only one tower next to remains of the existing structure, which ranges from one to two stories.

“I am really troubled by the phasing of the project,” Commission Chairwoman Julie Livingston said. “We may actually have only half this development realized because that is a very different architectural outcome than a full development on this site.”

City guidelines don’t directly address a project built in multiple phases, over a number of years.

“If we are only reviewing the full development and the developer is sitting here telling us only half of it might happen, I feel we are doing a disservice to the neighborhood, the process and ourselves in pushing this forward,” Livingston said.

Also, the development’s orientation was a nonstarter for three of the four commissioners in attendance Thursday as well as Portland Bureau of Development Services (BDS) staff.

“We know we have a lot of work to do,” Bora Architects Associate Principal Leslie Cliffe said. “We were hoping we don’t have to move the orientation of the buildings.”

That developer wants to be able to build one tower while tenants remain in parts of the existing retail building. That argument got a cool reception from commissioners and BDS staffers.

“It appears the leasing is driving the orientation, and not the context (of the neighborhood),” BDS planner Puja Bhutani said.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation also expressed serious concerns about requests for a slight expansion of Northwest 14th Avenue and a slight reduction of Northwest Kearney Street. Developers want modifications to loading dock requirements as well.

Another issue was the proposed height. In order to build 150 feet up, developers would need 30 feet of discretionary bonus height. Without it, two floors would be lost.

“It’s got be earned,” Commissioner Tad Savinar said. “I feel that it should be earned in a way that makes the neighborhood better for the immediate neighbors and workers.”

The project team will return before the commission on Dec. 7.

Also on Thursday:

Glisan Street Apartments

The design for a new five-story building was again sent back to C2K Architecture for revisions. The Design Commission wants revisions to a blank brick wall on the building’s north façade, the addition of a canopy on the east side, revisions to a rooftop unit and better definition of the program in a glass display case. The project team will return before the commission on Nov. 2.

SmartPark garage

FFA Architecture and Interiors‘ plans to renovate the SmartPark garage at 730 S.W. 10th Ave. was approved by commissioners’ 3-1 vote. Savinar cast the only dissenting vote. The renovation will improve the stairs, elevators, retail storefronts, mechanical equipment, accessibility, infrastructure, and expand the retail floor.

Eleven West

The Design Commission voted 4-0 to approve plans for a new half-block, 24-story, 291-foot-tall mixed-use building at 1102-1116 S.W. Washington St. ZGF Architects‘ design calls for 7,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space, 110,000 square feet of office space and 222 market-rate apartments.

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