A mixed-use development that will top out at eight stories won approval from the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission on Monday.

ARCOA Partners‘ project is planned for 1006 S.E. Grand Ave., within the East Portland/Grand Avenue Historic District.

Commissioners said the design had improved from earlier iterations, providing a path to approval.

“You heard and understood the comments and concerns of the commission and from my standpoint really addressed all of them,” Commissioner Andrew Smith said.

The project will add an eight-story, 75,932-square-foot mixed-use building to the existing U.S. Laundry Building (also known as the Arcoa Building). A two-story “sidecar” building will also be constructed, and a non-original, one-story building will be removed. The three-story U.S. Laundry Building was built in 1907.

Ink:Built Architecture was able to ease concerns about the planned 85-foot height and imposing size. The use of three separate forms helped reduce the apparent mass, commissioners said.

“We’re so often told larger buildings can never get approved, but you came in here and really worked with us,” Commissioner Matthew Roman said.

Vice Chairwoman Maya Foty likewise praised the project’s “elegant, thoughtful design that relates to the historical without being literal.”

ARCOA’s program calls for a mix of market-rate and affordable housing units on the upper floors and ground-floor retail space, residential amenities and mechanized parking.

The owner is ARCOA Partners, a limited liability company. Serving as owner’s representative is Eric Myers of Portland’s Arcoa Opportunity Funds LLC.

The commission approved the project 4-0, with votes from Chairwoman Kristen Minor, Foty, Roman and Smith.  Ernestina Fuenmayor was not present, and the commission has two vacancies.

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