The design for a new six-story, mixed-use building at the corner of Northwest 13th Avenue and Glisan Street in Portland will have to wait at least three more weeks to potentially gain the Historic Landmarks Commission‘s approval. On Monday, the commission appeared ready to vote on a staff recommendation to approve Mackenzie‘s design, but instead extended the public comment period.

“We appreciate the public comment,” Mackenzie principal architect Paul Kisling told the commission. “We would like to push for approval at this meeting. We feel like we really have represented this project well. We have met the guidelines of both the historic district and the Central City.”

Despite Kisling’s argument, the commission abided citizen John Hollister’s request for more time. He testified against the project on Monday.

“We are hoping to have the height of the building reduced to fit into the neighborhood,” he said. “The proposed building would be 96 feet high and would be the tallest building in the historic district.”

Several commissioners appeared willing to accept the proposed height. With bonuses, the maximum allowable height in the district is 145 feet.

“We have spent a fair amount of time on this building,” Commissioner Carin Carlson said. “I am in a good place with it.”

Other commissioners admitted that the proposed height gave them pause, but added that they were nevertheless inclined to support the project.

“Yes, this is pushing the envelope for me in terms of height for this district,” Commissioner Kristen Minor said. “But I am convinced that this will not look out of place and will still respect the character of the district.”

Minor said that concerns about height might have been raised earlier in the process by the neighborhood association. In the end, the commission granted Hollister’s request.

Public comments will be taken through March 6, and a response period to those comments will extend through March 13. The design team will then have until March 20 to rebut any of those comments. A final vote is expected to come March 20.

The planned building, known as Pearl East, would offer 67,000 square feet of creative office and retail space, as well as three levels of below-ground parking with 45 stalls. Currently, the site is a vacant parking lot.

The building’s original design was changed in response to the commission’s recommendations given during a previous design advice meeting.

“We have wanted to make it look like the building had always been there,” Kisling said.

One change was moving the penthouse back and disconnecting it from the planes of all major facades to prevent visibility from the street.

Also, a canopy was added over a garage door to help break up the scale. Designers proposed using board-formed concrete to provide scale and texture. Benches were altered to match neighboring buildings and improve pedestrian experience.

Changes were also made to the rooftop amenity. Material colors were lightened to blend into the skyline. Additional detailing was added to windows to add depth.

“The upstairs is largely an eco-roof,” Kisling said.

Materials were also changed from the original design. A simple stucco or painted masonry will be used on the east façade. Pending agreement with the owner of the neighboring building, the brick line will be extended on the north façade. Stucco or painted masonry will be used adjacent to the brick.

“It will be a red-brick blend,” Kisling said.

The property is owned by The Pearl Building LLC. It’s registered to Roxy Rapp, founder of Palo Alto, California-based Rapp Development.

Fortis Construction will serve as the general contractor and Specht Development will manage the project.

Plans are for construction to begin in the fourth quarter of 2017 and finish in slightly more than a year.

Also on Monday:

2011 N.E. Siskiyou St.

The Historic Landmarks Commission approved the design of a single-family home after modifications were made to placate concerns of the Irvington Community Association. It had appealed a Jan. 30 decision to approve the design.

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