is renovating 1,300 square feet of a 3,000-square-foot space at 1220 S.E. Grand Ave for the future winner of a Portland Development Commission-sponsored startup business contest. The winning business in the will occupy the space rent-free for one year.

Work on the project, which is nearly completed, includes demolition of two bathrooms and subsequent installation of three restrooms, including one with a shower, building of a demising wall, installation of a kitchen, conference room, and office, as well as an updating of utilities and leveling of a former split-level floor. The project was designed by .

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City commisioners have approved a project to revitalize a blighted building in North Portland.

Haddish Tarekegn, a business man who lives in the neighborhood, is planning to transform a former church, at the corner of North Mississippi Avenue and Stafford Street, into a school. However, to do so, zoning for the property had to be changed to mixed commercial/residential.

The process to change zoning was painstaking, according to Dave Spitzer, architect for DMS Architects, which is designing the project.

In coming to their decision, city commissioners reviewed a recommendation by the hearings officer. The recommendation included traffic studies, neighborhood feedback and comments from each city bureau.

A letter provided by the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability outlined the agency’s opposition to the project, based in part on the fact that it felt commercial/residential zoning was not created for heavy residential areas.

However, in his overall assessment, the hearings officer recommended that the project move forward.

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City Council on Wednesday may open the door for revitalization of a blighted building in North Portland.

A businessman, Haddish Tarekegn, is hoping to transform a former church, at the corner of North Mississippi Avenue and Stafford Street, into a school. However, to do so, zoning for the property – now a split of single-dwelling residential and general commercial – must become mixed commercial/residential.

The process to change zoning has been painstaking, according to Dave Spitzer, architect for DMS Architects, which is designing the project.

“It has taken so long,” he said. “I think (this is) just the last step in the process.”

The council will review a recommendation by the hearings officer. It includes traffic studies, neighborhood feedback and comments from each city bureau, among other things. Ina letter opposing the project, the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability points out that mixed commercial/residential zoning was not created for heavy residential areas.

However, in his overall assessment, the hearings officer recommends that the project move forward.

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The Oak Lodge Water District office in Oak Grove is in the middle of an extensive restoration. The building at 14496 S.E. River Road is getting exterior, seismic, electrical and mechanical upgrades, a new roof and interior finishes. General contractor Robert Gray Partners is in charge of the project that was designed by DMS Architects. Completion is expected in spring 2011.

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After an extensive renovation, an 80-year-old warehouse in inner-Southeast Portland is now the home of Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. The 10,000-square-foot space at 61 S.E. Yamhill St. houses a restaurant, a tasting room, offices and a brewing area. The building’s exterior has been upgraded and windows have been reopened and enlarged. Baseline Construction is the general contractor and DMS Architects is the designer of the remodel.

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Hair of the Dog Brewing Co. is getting a new home in Southeast Portland. A 10,000-square-foot warehouse built in 1935 at 61 S.E. Yamhill St. is being renovated to house a tasting room, a restaurant, a brewing area and offices. Windows that had been blocked have been reopened and expanded. The storefront and exterior of the building also is being upgraded. Baseline Construction is the general contractor and DMS Architects is the designer of the remodel.

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Rivers Edge Cafe & Catering this week opened a second location in downtown Portland. The new space for the eatery and catering service is at 710 S.W. Second Ave. The space was designed by DMS Architects and Rose’s Equipment Design, and was built by Baseline Construction.

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Myoptic Optometry & Modern Eyeware is getting a new home in the Hakoya Lofts building in Northeast Portland. The 600-square-foot space is on the ground level of the mixed-use building at the corner of North Williams Street and Shaver Street. RJR Construction is the general contractor and DMS Architects is the designer of the space.

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