The Burnside Blog
Height Limits Scrapped in Pearl
As reported by the DJC, the Design Commission has scrapped building height limits in the North Pearl District in favor of a system that allows developers to build higher than 225 feet if they shrink the footprint of the building. The desired outcome is to create more variation in height and massing in the Pearl, where the majority of new buildings have maxed out at 175, or 225 feet.
This is good news for the Pearl District, and it would be beneficial for the city to adopt similar height requirements for South Waterfront, which is beginning to look like one giant slab of glass from downtown.
The DJC also reports the following:
“Word from commercial brokers is that Williams and Dame’s 2121 Belmont condominiums are converting to apartments.”
Well, you have to commend them for their ear-to-the-ground reporting skills, but this scoop comes about two months late. Rumors surrounding the conversion of the ambitious Eastside project by Williams and Dame Development began circling through real estate circles in late 2007 amid sagging sales. When the decision was finalized to convert the 123-unit project to rentals, The Oregonian’s Ryan Frank broke the story to the public in a front-page business section story in April.
I really like the 2121 project as has added some much needed density to an underused swath of Belmont, but I’m curious to know how this project will perform as an apartment building. With high construction costs, the rents will need to be higher than the going rate in SE Portland just to pencil. Whether renters will pay top prices to live on SE 21st and Belmont remains to be seen. If it does perform well, 2121 could change the entire close-in Eastside rental market, where demand for apartments is extremely high.
By Scooter on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 02:35PM PDT
I wouldn’t say they don’t have a clue. It’s really difficult to find people to write about development. Think about it: If you know a lot about what’s happening in PDX development, you could get a job with a developer and make a lot of money. Or, you could work for DJC and make $30,000 a year. (I have no idea what they make over there)
I have many friends in journalism in this city, and I have to say that writers really take it in the ass in PDX. Willamette Week and The Oregonian apparently are the worst.
By Mike Thelin on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 09:49PM PDT
I think they do a pretty good job. The DJC definitely writes more development stories than anyone in Portland. Plus, Libby Tucker does a great job with the sustainability beat. No one can touch her.
By Phil on Sunday, June 29, 2008 at 02:03PM PDT
2121 has what looks like a real crappy “public space” component. Are there even any storefronts in the building? Why would anyone hang out near the exhaust vents to an underground parking garage?
I guarantee it will be filled with skateboarders and graffiti once the construction fence comes down. The architects don’t seem to have much understanding in how people use space in SE.
By Dan Hunter on Thursday, June 12, 2008 at 02:27PM PDT
The DJC always makes HUGE reporting errors. A couple of weeks ago Sam Bennett reported that the Skylab Tower (which is still highly conceptual) was rising from the ground. The don’t have a clue in that newsroom.