6 • The Southwest Portland Post
Multnomah Village Apartments
(Continued from Page 1)
planners,” she added.
Developer Tim O’Brien of Urban
Asset Advisors, and Kurt Schultz of
SERA Architects, Inc. took the floor.
O’Brien grew up in Multnomah
Village. Because he has such tries to
the neighborhood, he said his goal
is to consider the feedback, close on
the property and make a beautiful
building.
Standing by large boards depicting
drawings and layout of the building,
O’Brien reminded the crowd that they
didn’t have to be there.
“We wanted to come so you could
influence us. We want to build
something that is an asset to the
village,” he said.
O’Brien explained the property is
zoned Commercial Storefront (CS),
which allows him to build 45 feet high
(four stories) with an unlimited amount
of square footage.
“They encourage you to build right
up to the street edge,” he added. “But
that is not what we are proposing,
even though we are within our rights
to do so.”
The CS zone is, however, intended
to “preserve and enhance older
commercial areas with a storefront
character,” and that new development
is compatible “with this desired
character.”
In addition, the lots are in a design
overlay zone, to ensure that infill
development “will be compatible
with the neighborhood and enhance
the area.”
O’Brien stressed they designed
the apartment building to appear
less “monolithic” by placing a small
courtyard space out front. Large
windows and balconies will also
break up the impression of “mass,” he
assured the crowd.
The city code calls for .33 parking
NEWS
stalls per unit but O’Brien said they
were going to build 43 parking spaces
for the 70 units.
When some expressed skepticism
that 27 future renters would be carless,
O’Brien replied they were “doing the
best they could.”
During public comments, attendees
were mostly concerned about the
height, saying a four-story building just
“didn’t fit” in the village.
Bernie Bonn collected 414 signatures
in just four days to oppose the project.
The petition reads: “We urge the City
Council to protect this priceless and
historic (100-year old) neighborhood
of Portland by limiting buildings to
no more than 3 stories and requiring
residential development to provide
parking at a level of 1 space per unit.”
“I heard the same sentiments over
and over again from signers,” Bonn
said. “Four stories is too high. The
parking is already bad. Thinking that
people in Multnomah won’t own a car
is unrealistic, even if people ride a bike
to work. Adding more cars without
parking will make it a nightmare.”
Many agreed, including Stewart
Rounds. “Four stories does seem a
little big for what I still consider to be
a small town in the middle of the big
city,” said Rounds.
“I would encourage you to please
consider (building) a little shorter. Four
stories seems a little tall to me. Three
seems more livable.”
Rounds has more than 700 signatures
on his online petition asking the city
to restrict apartment buildings in the
Village to three stories, and require one
parking place per unit.
Suzanne Lehman called the design
“gorgeous,” but also begged O’Brien
to change the height. “We’re not
saying, ‘don’t develop in our precious
community’, we’re saying, ‘develop,
but make it livable.’”
Steven Kovacks agreed. “I think it
July 2015
should be developed, and the current
property is underutilized as is,” he
said. “But it really is not a good fit for
the village.”
There were supporters. Chris Dearth
said he was in favor of change and
diversity. “If we want diversity and
opportunities for our children and
elderly people in our village, we need
developments like this,” he said. “This
is a positive thing for our village.”
Mike Ashland said because of the
Urban Growth Boundary, the city
needs to support infill.
“I think that we don’t want our
farmland and forestland eaten up with
housing,” Ashland said. “And unless
we put up bigger places, we’re not
going to make any progress with this.”
Following comments, Bill Kielhorn
made a motion that the Multnomah
Neighborhood Association oppose
any development higher than three
stories, or 37 feet tall in Multnomah
Village along Capitol Highway
from the viaduct over Multnomah
Boulevard to Miles Street.
Some objected to voting on the
motion with just five minutes left
in the meeting, and little time for
discussion. One person questioned
the point when the zoning allows
O’Brien to build four stories anyway.
Sucec reminded people that
b e c a u s e o f t h e d e s i g n o v e r l a y,
development must be in character
of, and compatible with the tone of
the neighborhood.
The motion passed with 36 ayes, 9
nays and 8 abstaining.
O’Brien said he was a little
disappointed with the vote, and
although he would continue to work
on the design, he was immovable on
four stories.
As for the idea that it would “stick
out” in the village? “I hope it sticks
out. It’s supposed to be a beautiful
project that does stick out,” O’Brien
said. “It’s a marquee property in a
marquee location. It’s intended to
be that. So, yeah, it should have an
impact. It should have a positive
impact.”
OPEN FORUM
streets, and all the parking spaces are
taken up in my neighborhood, where are
these folks going to walk?
Assuming that development will occur,
I would invite all of you, both pro and
con, to at least remain civil and work
to promote development that helps the
Village stay the Village, and doesn’t
impact the surrounding neighborhood
as much as it could.
Editor’s Note: Michael Banks lives in
Multnomah Village. A four-story, 71-unit
apartment building has been proposed for a
site on the corner of Southwest 33rd Avenue
and Capitol Highway. For more on this
subject, read KC Cowan’s story on Page 1.
The Post welcomes reader response. Letters are
welcome up to 300 words and guest columns
up to 500 words. Contact information can be
found on Page 2.
(Continued from Page 3)
and Capitol Highway. Anybody thought
through what this means?
Further, there will likely be increased
traffic on 33rd Place and the surrounding
area with increased traffic on 33rd Avenue
to gain access to the new building, either
from residents or customers of any new
commercial shops.
Finally, if any of you ever decide to
walk along 33rd Avenue after 3:30 p.m. or
thereafter, you are going to see a number
of adults, children and teens who live in
the area (who are returning from school
or work) and/or who use the bus stop at
33rd Avenue and Capitol Highway and
must walk on the street.
Once we have increased traffic on the
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Excellent SW Portland references