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LEE PERLMAN
THE MID-COUNTY MEMO
The Big Look, a multi-jurisdictional discussion of the use of tax abatements to encourage housing development, is nearing completion, Kate Allen of the Portland Office of Housing told the Portland Planning and Sustainability Commission last month. Among other things, the effort is intended to examine the practice of granting an excessive number of “affordable” housing projects in east Portland, especially the David Douglas school district. Critics complain that this saddles districts with more school-age families than they have the resources to serve, while depriving them of resources by limiting the growth of the tax base.
While this discussion was going on, the commission last month approved three more housing projects for tax abatements, two of them in east Portland.
Gordon Jones's project between Northeast 97th and 99th avenues, Flanders and Glisan streets will have 90 units in two four-story structures. There will be 31 studios, 31 one-bedroom units and 28 two-bedrooms; these last will range in size from 825 to 960 square feet. The building will be composed of modular units built off-site, allowing construction to be completed in five months. It will include on-site storm water harvesting and a dedicated car share space. Jones said he hoped to break ground next summer depending on the results of mandatory design review for the project.
Commission member Chris Smith noted that the project will have only 66 off-street parking spaces, and noted that on this aspect of development, “There's a gap between what the market is doing and what lenders are requiring.”
Jones responded that most prospective tenants will be looking for “workforce housing that is accessible by transit. There are enough [people] that don't have or don't use autos. In Los Angeles, you actually have to add off-street parking if you remodel, which really kills projects.” For this property, no off-street parking is required. Jones did concede that his parking ratios may be “pushing the envelope.”
However, Jones had complaints about RX zone, which covers much of Gateway, in general. “It really drives underground parking, which you can't do unless you have enormous subsidies,” he said. “It has almost stopped development. It's too aggressive. You need to be careful about over-zoning.” He was almost as unhappy with the area's Type III Design Review, which requires hearings before the Portland Design commission. “It's really onerous,” Jones said. “You have people looking at your project as if it were in the South Waterfront.”
Commission member Don Hanson commented, “This whole area is in transition. Projects like this will really set the tone.”
Commission member Howard Shapiro said, “This seems like an exemplary project.” The Commission approved it unanimously.
They also gave unanimous approval to Glendoveer Woods on Northeast 146th Avenue, between Glisan and East Burnside streets, also four stories but with 113 units: 46 studios, 62 one-bedrooms, and five two bedrooms. The unit sizes will range from 489 square feet to 1,020. 23 units will be “affordable” to people making 60 percent of median area household income, some will be designed for the handicapped, and all will have handicapped-accessible features. It will have a community garden with raised beds, a community room, and a 500 square foot self-service bike repair room.
Allen said the three projects were already “in the pipeline” when the Big Look project began.
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