937 Glisan Condos

937 Condominiums  The design for the proposed 937 condominiums is based on fractal geometry, the idea of similarly shaped elements repeating throughout a visual landscape. It's seen in nature, in elements like ponds and ferns - where bubbles and fronds are repeated, smaller and irregularly, inside the shape of the whole - and in the condominium design, it takes shape as an imperfect pattern of windows and solid space.

The mixed-use, 16-story tower will occupy the half-block site at Glisan Street between Northwest Ninth Avenue and Northwest 10th Avenue, replacing an existing commercial retail building. Retail space is slated for the ground floor, with two levels of parking below and 114 condominium units above. The building will stand 170 feet tall, and have a floor-area-ratio of 9-to-1. It'll break ground sometime in the summer of 2006.

The retail level is glass and pre-cast concrete, meant to give the impression of massive display boxes marching down the street. The geometry of the upper levels is carried out in wheat-colored stack-bonded brick, glass, steel and rain screen stucco. The building's balconies, enclosed in wine-colored glass, are stacked in vertical rows of various heights. The glass balconies - which will be backlit for a touch of evening color - congregate to segment the building into smaller parts.

That inspired pairing is at work in the 937 project. John Homes and the team at Holst Architecture created the 937 design, with Ankrom Moisan adding detailing and acting as the architect of record. Holmes and Selberg worked together at Holst for four years, and Selberg said joining forces was a natural.

The building is tracking for a "no-sweat" LEED Silver rating.  An eco-roof is planned for the building's north side, and the team is currently struggling to make a massive stormwater planter fit into the scope of the project. They're also looking for ways to incorporate the enormous beams and planks that they'll harvest when the existing building is torn down.

 Sales Update:  April, 2008

The building is due to be completed in October, 2008.  The developers decline to reveal the status of sales.

Location  The 937 Glisan condominium building is at Northwest Glisan Street between Ninth and 10th Avenues.
Developer  W&K Development.  W&K also developed the Thurman Street Lofts in Northwest Portland.
Construction Type  A new building.
Number of Units  Sixteen stories and 114 living units. 
Style  Unknown.
Green  The target of the design is a gold LEED from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Pricing  $300,000 to $2.2 million.
Parking  Underground.
Square Foot Price  $500 and up.
Sales Office  937 Studio, 425 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, OR 97209.  Telephone 503.248.9371.
Preconstruction Reservations  Sign up at 937 Studio.
Completion Date  Sumner 2008.

Pearl District Condos Currently for Sale  Pearl District Condos.
 

The Casey

The Casey  A new condo tower in the heart of the Pearl District at 12th and Everett. The Casey will be one of the most energy efficient and environmentally-friendly high rise residential projects in the United States. The developer, Gerding/Edlen, is aiming for it to be the first condo tower in the country to earn a top "platinum" rating under the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program.

Platinum LEED

Stephen Domries of GBD Architects said that the Casey has earned almost 50 LEED points (Platinum certification requires at least 52 points).

The Casey would include an eco-roof for storm water management with photovoltaic panels that would generate energy for common-area spaces according to GBD Architects. Other ideas that are being explored include::

• Water-efficient appliances.

• Obtaining a Flexcar on the site for alternative transportation.

• Specifying efficient and appropriate glazing (on windows) to reduce heat and glare.

• Ground-source heating and cooling.

• Efficient skin and curtain-wall design.

• Operable windows throughout the building in residential areas as well as retail.

The building would sit just north of the Brewery Blocks.  Going east to west, the building would connect the northwest district neighborhood across Interstate 405 to the Pearl District.

Construction should begin in the Fall of 2005 and the building will be completed in 2007.  Roger Jones, the owner of the property, named the building after his father Casey Jones.

 Sales Update:  April of 2008

The Casey is scheduled to finish this summer (2008) and is 70 percent sold out. The Casey is located near Portland Center Stage, Powell's and the Brewery Blocks' coffee shops and restaurants.

Location  NW 12th Avenue and NW Everett Street.  The building will sit north of the Brewery Blocks.
Developer  Gerding/Edlen.
Construction Type  New building.
Number of Units  Sixteen stories and 61 living units - just five or fewer units per floor.
Style  Traditional.  The average size of a Casey condo will be 2,000 square feet.
Green  The target of the design is a silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Pricing  This energy efficient building will most likely set a new high for condo prices in Portland.
Parking  Four levels of underground parking with 190 stalls.
Square Foot Price  Most likely $450 and up. Nearly all the Casey's condos are large and expensive. The average condo runs 2,200 square feet and $1.2 million.
Sales Office  1120 NW Couch, Suite 600 Portland, Oregon 97209.  Telephone (503) 802-6208. 
Preconstruction Reservations  As of mid January 2006, they are taking reservations on their Web site or by calling the sales office.  The Casey will not hold general open hours to the public. All meetings will be by appointment only. In mid January 2006, they have 16 reservations out of 6l total homes.  They anticipate scheduling appointments through the beginning of March.
Completion Date  Sometime in 2007.

Pearl District Condos Currently for Sale  Pearl District Condos.
 

The Encore

The Encore  Hoyt Street Properties announced in early 2006 that it is going ahead with its latest project between Northwest Ninth and 10th avenues north of Overton Street - a 15-story condo project called the Encore - designed by Boora Architects.

The June 15th edition of the Daily Journal of Commerce report this information about the Encore: The 175-foot building will be a gateway development from the existing Pearl to what's expected to rise in the next decade, said John Spencer, a planning and urban design consultant who worked on the master plan.  "One of the big concepts" in the master plan, Spencer said, are "buildings that have thin towers facing north with a lot of emphasis on glass and transparency and views of the river, and the parts that face back toward the Pearl District would be designed to be more contextual with the built neighborhood."

It will be the first structure in the Pearl to be built in a semicircle on one face.  It will be "the first project with eyes on the park," referring to a to-be-designed city-owned park between Northwest 10th and 11th avenues and Overton and Pettygrove streets.

 Sales Update:  June of 2008

It is estimated that about 25 units have been sold.

Location  Between NW 9th and 10th Avenue and north of NW Overton Street.  The 16-story building rises next to land that will become the Pearl's largest park.  The Encore is on the Portland Streetcar line.  See map of downtown - PDF format.
Developer  Hoyt Realty Properties. Other projects that Hoyt Realty Group has done include Bridgeport Condos, The Lexis, Park Place Condos, The Pinnacle, Streetcar Lofts, and Tanner Place.
Construction Type  New building.  Construction will begin in August 2006.
Number of Units  The Encore will be a 15-story building that is the first structure in the Pearl to be built in a semicircle on one face.  Their will be 177 units to include lofts, one and two bedroom, townhomes, and penthouses. 
Style  Traditional.
Green  To be announced.
Pricing  Pricing is moderate and less than the Metropolitan.
Square Foot Price   Most likely in the $400 plus.
Parking  To be announced.
Sales Office  Hoyt Realty Group, 1130 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.  Telephone: (503) 227-2000.  Showroom and sales office open daily 10-6 Monday-Friday, 11-5 Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations  Subscribe by clicking here.
Completion  Construction is expected to start in the summer of 2006 and the completion date is scheduled for the fall of 2008.

Pearl District Condos Currently for Sale  Pearl District Condos.
 

The Metropolitan Condos

The Metropolitan Condos  The Metropolitan will be a mixed use projects.  It will have 121 units in a 19-story tower that will be paired with a 4-story, 20,000-square-foot boutique live/work building. The boutique building will contain approximately 12 loft-style units and the main tower will contain both single level and townhome style units. These two sections will be joined by over 20,000-square feet of retail space at the street level and two floors of underground parking.

At 225 feet tall, the Metropolitan will be the tallest building in the Pearl District offering views of the neighborhood, Tanner Springs Park, Jamison Square, The Willamette River, mountain peaks, downtown, and the west hills. The design of the slender condominium tower allows a majority of the units to be exclusive corner units, maximizing views and daylight for unit owners.

The Metropolitan includes extensive amenities such as a two story travertine and wood clad lobby, concierge service, club facilities including a lounge with individual wine storage and a wine bar, a library for relaxing and entertaining, an exercise room, conference facilities, and guest suites. The Club facilities also include a second floor roof garden, extensively landscaped, areas for relaxing, for parties and the guest cottage serves a dual purpose as a support space for summer parties. Other amenities include a raised outdoor plaza that features outdoor fireplace, tea house, and water feature. 

 LEED Silver

The luxury of the metropolitan is balanced by a commitment to sustainable design and healthy living. the leed silver building will have high performance energy efficient mechanical systems and glazing systems, storm water retention for landscape irrigation, the incorporation of durable, low-maintenance materials and the use of healthy materials and abundant natural ventilation for improved air quality.

 Interior Features (Floors 1-17)

• Custom Euro-style wood cabinetry

• Natural Stone counters and back-painted glass backsplash

• Hardwood flooring

• State-of-the-art CAT5E communications wiring

• Patios and balconies

• 9 feet plus high ceilings in most rooms

• Stone mosaic accent tile in master bath  and 6 ft. jetted tubs in master baths

• Separate large master bath showers - double sinks in master baths

 Interior Features (Penthouse Units)

Stone tile entry foyers, 10 feet high ceilings in most rooms, built-in "floating" casework, kitchens with  stainless appliances, master suites with large baths, custom closet, large utility rooms, 3 bedrooms, 3.5 baths + den/exercise room, natural stone slab counters, and 8 feet interior doors.

 Sales Update:  June of 2008

The Metropolitan has only 18 units left. 

Hoyt Realty Group had an opening event on November 4, 2005 in which prospective buyers entered their names into a lottery.  The lottery was held on November 6. Out of 480 lottery entrant hopefuls, 200 names were drawn and contacted about purchasing residences in the 136-unit multiuse building. The process resulted in 52 fully executed sales agreements and 46 pending agreements.

Location  Between NW 10th and NW 11th Avenues and NW Lovejoy and NW Marshall Streets, The Metropolitan is adjacent to the newest park in the Pearl neighborhood, Tanner Springs Park.  It is also on the Portland Streetcar line.  See map of downtown - PDF format.
Developer  Hoyt Realty Group. Other projects that Hoyt Realty Group has done include Bridgeport Condos, The Lexis, Park Place Condos, The Pinnacle, Streetcar Lofts, and Tanner Place.
Construction Type  New building.  Construction will begin in the Fall of 2005.
Number of Units  The Metropolitan will be one of the city’s first truly mixed use projects with 121 large luxury condominium homes in a 19 story tower, paired with a 4-story 20,000 square foot building containing 15 loft style live/work spaces with a business occupancy classification, retail space at the ground level and two floors of underground parking. 
Style  Lofts, one-bedroom, two-bedrooms, three-bedroom penthouses, townhomes, and live-work spaces.  Average size will be 1,400 square feet.
Green  Expected to received a silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.
Pricing  Pricing to be released in October 2005.  Expect "top of the market" numbers.
Square Foot Price   Most likely in the $400 plus.
Parking  One parking space for one-bedroom units and two parking spaces for units with 2 or more bedrooms.
Sales Office  Hoyt Realty Group, 1130 NW 10th Avenue, Portland, Oregon.  Telephone: (503) 227-2000.  Showroom and sales office open daily 10-6 Monday-Friday, 11-5 Saturday and Sunday.
Reservations  Sales begin in October 2005.
Completion  Date  Fall 2007.

Pearl District Condos Currently for Sale  Pearl District Condos.
 

Waterfront Pearl

Waterfront Pearl  Development partners, Pemcor Investment Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Grancorp Inc. of Seattle, are building a luxury project at the River Queen parking lot on the edge of the Pearl District.  The property, held for years by the Naito family, is bordered by Naito Parkway, the Albers Mill building to the south and the Portland Police paddock to the north.

This area has approximately 900 feet of waterfront and will be called "Waterfront Pearl."  This area is located on the Northeast corner of the Pearl District neighborhood.

Amenities include an underground parking garage, exercise room, boardroom and common area. The developers do not plan to pursue regulatory approval for docks or river-oriented amenities.

 Design Includes Water Feature

Plans include an extensive water feature.  The water features covers almost the entire property and will range in depth from 18 to 36 inches. Water will cascade down a series of waterfalls, be recycled through a series of filters, and re-circulated. It is designed to assist with storm water management, building temperature control and irrigation. It will also provide gray water for fire fighting.

The effect would be to make the buildings look like they're resting in the shallows of the Willamette River. The project calls for extensive landscaping, maintains view corridors from Naito Parkway and continues the riverfront trail that currently ends at the edge of the parking lot. 

Soren Rasmussen, the architect, sees the project as a bridge that will connect the Pearl District to the Willamette River and teamed with Portland landscape architectural firm Walker Macy to design a central water feature intended to illustrate the connection. Rasmussen's design for the two towers calls for sculpted, wedge-shaped buildings that enable most condo units to view the river.

 Project Timetable

Plans called for the project to develop in two phases, from north to south.  The first build (Mistral) will have 97 condominium units and will range from 900 square feet to more than 2,000 square feet in a 10 story building. The other building (Azure) will have 95 units ranging in size from 900 square feet to over 3,200 square feet.  Condominiums at the Mistral and Azure will sell from $350,000 to more than $2.7 million.  Construction started in early October 2005 and plans call for the both buildings to be finished by the spring of 2008.

 Sales Update - March 2007

The Waterfront Pearl has pre-sold 55 percent of its 196 units have about 85 units remain unsold.

Location  North of downtown along the Willamette River.  It is bordered by Naito Parkway, the Albers Mill building to the south and the Portland Police paddock to the north. See map of area - PDF format.
Developer  Development partners, Pemcor Investment Corp. of Vancouver, British Columbia, and Grancorp Inc. of Seattle.
Construction  New building.
Number of Units  97 suites in Mistral, the first building.  They will range from 900 to 2,000 square feet in a 10-story building. The Azure will have 95 units ranging in size from 900 square feet to over 3,200 square feet.
Style  Traditional condo style.
Pricing  Waterfront Pearl's planned 192 condominium units will range from 900 square feet to more than 3,200 square feet and vary in cost from $350,000 to more than $2.7 million.
Parking  Underground.
Sales Office  Alber’s Mill Office Building at 1200 NW Naito Pkwy, Suite 100.  Presentation Centre features a fully furnished 1286 square foot model home.  Hours: 12-5 daily, closed Fridays. For more information, call 503-229-7600.
Completion Date  Construction started in early October 2005 and the project should be finished by the spring of 2008. 

Pearl District Condos Currently for Sale  Pearl District Condos.
 

 Condo Prices - 2006

The average sales price for condos in the Portland metro area increased by a mere $400 in 2006. The average sales price was $234,200 compared to $233,800 in 2005. The National Association of Realtors reported that nationally, the median condo prices increased by almost 13 percent, to $218,200, in 2005.

New buildings close in are now being priced at $500 a square foot and upwards.  Conversions of existing apartment building are selling in the range of $325-$400 a square foot.

 Tax Abatement Condos

Many of the condo developments offer tax abatements.  Homeowners still pay taxes on the land and any increases in value allowed under Measure 50 (limits to percent the annual increase in assessed home values).  Visit these Web site to learn more:

• Portland Development Commission

• Multnomah County Tax Exemption Office

• Oregon State Historic Preservation Office

• Oregon Department of Revenue

Condos in the downtown area offering tax abatements are as follows;  Cornerstone Condos (1134 SW Jefferson Street), Marshall-Wells Lofts (1420 NW Lovejoy Street), The Avenue Lofts (1400 NW Irving Street), The Embassy (2015 NW Flanders Street), and Chown Pella Lofts (416 NW 13th Avenue).