The Burnside Blog
Smart Park's Concrete Urinal To Find New Life as Skyscraper
The Portland Tribune reports today that the Portland Development Commission has given the go-ahead to Developer John Carroll’s proposal to demolish the Smart Park garage on 10th and Morrison in favor of a 29-story mixed-use stack of retail, office space, condominium units, and possibly a hotel. That’s much better than its current use: a six-story architectural bowel movement that doubles as urinal for Portland’s homeless population. Oh, and it’s also home to Bush Garden Japanese Restaurant, the Real Mother Goose, and Peterson’s Market, known for its selection of trucker speed, energy drinks, and cellophane-wrapped magazines.
In light of current market conditions, the article states the tower won’t likely start construction for another few years. I for one can hardly wait. I have the misfortune of walking past this monstrosity every day of my life, and I will be happy to see it and its urine scent erased from the face of Planet Earth.
So what could derail it?
Let me tell you the greatest thing of all about Portland, Oregon. Here, everyone’s opinion is valued. When it comes to buildings, this can be terrible, especially when such buildings will cost the taxpayer $25 to $30 million from the public trough.
I for one really hope there won’t be much opposition. While I’m usually far more of a curmudgeon when it comes to rich developers dipping into the public purse for what could be built elsewhere with private-sector funds, I believe the PDC should ante up whatever it takes to rid this abysmal concrete boil from our compact and walkable urban core. Between the river and Ninth Avenue along Streets Morrison and Yamill are some of the nicest blocks in the city. Once you’re at Ninth Avenue, where the central retail district starts to bleed into Portland’s underutilized West End, there’s not much going on. Retail spaces are vacant, business turnover is high, and pedestrian traffic becomes light. If the Smart Park Block were carefully developed and woven into downtown fabric, and our homeless population were given more traditional toilet facilities, we’d all win.
By billb on Friday, August 15, 2008 at 12:30PM PDT
While I agree that it is a foul structure as is, that is more poor management/policeing , than design. If the City Council wants to be serious about Sustainability , then this should be re-configured by some hot-shot firm. Some of the existing tenants [mother goose/bush garden] are great long-term stores and deserve the support of the city , not an eviction notice.
By Penny on Monday, August 18, 2008 at 11:57AM PDT
The problem with re-structuring is that the stairwells likely cannot be relocated in the building. The stairwells, unless made of glass are fairly open to the outside world, and even with foot traffic, the stairwells are still public urinals. If it could be reconfigured, I would support a building revamp or addition, but if not, I would support tearing it down and starting on a smarter design to avoid the problems surrounding the current structure.
By eric cantona on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 04:54PM PDT
i wholeheartedly agree with your aesthetic and olfactory assessment of this structure, but i wonder if eliminating is the right course. to my understanding there have been several proposals for this building, several of which involve rehabbing/reskinning the structure and possibly extending office/condo-type development above the top deck.
my reticence is rooted in my sustainable thinking nature, and the difficulty in justifying the tearing down of a structure that, while certainly flawed, does indeed serve a valuable function. when i drive to the office i usually park there and can tell you, as a parking facility, it works quite well. i believe there are ways to address your concerns that would require significantly less resources to accomplish.
i’m a big fan of John Carroll’s work, and the quality he puts into his projects, but i think there are many more deserving sites nearby that would benefit from demolition and redevelopment than this one.
i vote for fixing it rather than demolishing it.