Six-Story Mixed-Use Rising in Portland’s Historic Alphabet City
By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorPortland, Ore.–Opus Northwest recently broke ground on Park, a mixed-use, 101-unit apartment building in the historic Alphabet District of Portland, Ore. The 94,727-sq.-ft. project will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, 2,600 sq. ft. of retail space and 63 below-grade parking spaces.Located at 1830 Northwest Hoyt St. and 510 Northwest…
By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorPortland, Ore.–Opus Northwest recently broke ground on Park, a mixed-use, 101-unit apartment building in the historic Alphabet District of Portland, Ore. The 94,727-sq.-ft. project will feature studios, one- and two-bedroom apartments, 2,600 sq. ft. of retail space and 63 below-grade parking spaces.Located at 1830 Northwest Hoyt St. and 510 Northwest 19th Ave., the six-story project will mimic the low-rise historic buildings in the area and be developed in accordance with the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design’s green building rating systems Silver ertification requirements.“This is one of the few new buildings in this neighborhood, which is surrounded by old single-family homes,” Mark Desbrow, Opus Portland real estate manager, tells MHN. The project is expected to be complete in May 2009.“We went to the neighborhood association even before we had a design for the project,” says Kurt Schultz, principal of SERA Architects, the firm that designed Park. “We found out their concerns, listened to suggestions and kept coming back with designs that incorporated their ideas. Every time, the project and design kept improving.”In support of the neighborhood, Opus is donating 1,000 tulips to be planted in Couch Park, across the street, and will be sponsoring a concert in August.“Opus and SERA really listened to what we wanted in appearance and function,” says Juliet Heimes, Northwest District Association president. “In response to our concerns about disturbing neighbors, they changed the entry for the garage and they improved the design to be more reminiscent of the historic apartments in the neighborhood. It’s especially important to get the design right in this highly visible location across from the park.”