Kaiser Group, Path Architecture, and the Future of North Williams

About a month ago Oregonian writer Stephen Beaven (who must have had cruel parents to give him such a rhymable name) wrote an article headlined “North Williams at edge of retail renaissance”. Aside from the missing preposition, the article introduced us to some names we might be hearing a lot more of in the future: Kaiser Group development and Path Architecture.

The two companies are essentially the same, owned and operated by partners Ben Kaiser and Corey Martin. Kaiser in particular is trained as an architect, even though he has worked more as a developer here since relocating from Ohio several years ago.

As Beaven’s article indicated, Kaiser and Martin are behind two projects slated for the North Williams area, which is ideally situated near the revitalized North Mississippi area as well as Martin Luther King Boulevard, Irvington and the Lloyd District. It’s another one of Portland’s under-utilized yet perfectly situated sub-pockets just crying out for redevelopment.

Kaiser Group commissioned the architects at Ankrom Moisan to design one of their projects, Backbridge Lofts. Having an architectural background as clients seems to have helped Kaiser and Martin residential condo project.

Acting under the Path Architecture banner, the two partners have also designed an adjacent project of their own: the mixed-use Backbridge Station. I’m particularly fond of this building. As you can see in the enclosed rendering, the design is clean lined and modern, yet is warmed up texturally by the use of wood – somewhat like Holst Architecture’s celebrated Belmont Lofts. Here, though, Path has also responded to our rainy climate by extending the upper floors over the ground-floor retail, which gives visitors shelter from the rain. The columns in front almost act like an arcade you’d find on East Burnside or various European cities. As it happens, that design element also gives the four-story building a greater sense of lightness. You get a sense of separation between the glassy ground floor and the wood-concrete-glass fusion above. I also like how there’s no bulky mechanical system on the roof corrupting the architectural form.

In the Oregonian article, Kaiser said he hoped to build condos for about $280 per square foot, but now he says it’s probably going to be between $300 and $325. That’s certainly cheaper than what units in the Pearl and South Waterfront are going for, and you get a long-established neighborhood with a colorful history to go with it. The price is still more than what a lot of young creative types will be able to afford, but for a building framed with steel and concrete occupying coveted real estate, it’s pragmatically agreeable.

What’s the initial verdict from the rest of you on this duo of urban infill projects?

Comments

[andrew]

A+ on the design. A good combination of artful lines, warmth of materials, and human scale.

Two questions, though. One, what is the timeline for all three projects? I noticed that none of their previous projects seem to be quite of this caliber.

And, is the PDC involved in this at all? I'm just wondering how much of a connection there is between that agency's heavy involvement over on MLK and the fact that so many projects on that street are stalled or far behind schedule.

[EdgePDX]

These look like great projects. Nice scale, form and texture. They both have a very human scale to them and connect with the street well without resorting to faux historical flourishes. I especially like the Backbridge Lofts townhouse looking units on the right side of the rendering. I think the townhouse is one of the most disappointing forms of architecture in Portland with most being vanilla suburban style gabled boxes. It's nice to see someone do them right.

[Justin]

Funny, I just ran across the new building - mixed use, 4 stories - down on 44th and Division today.

These projects, by comparison have a very different sense of scale & texture that I am concerned tend to be lacking in a lot of other infill projects. Seems like they will probably be setting the bar higher for the community...

I wonder how sticking with the modern/minimalist design approach will keep architecture limited in this area... I'm betting there is a lot of pressure by developers on their architects to design along these lines, as they are proving more & more to be very successful.

Would love to see some really crazy stuff come out, however...

Oh well. Kudos to the designers, these projects look great! Course, the curse of renderings...

[EdgePDX]

Justin, I'm not sure "really crazy stuff" is a good idea for these types of infill projects as it would tend to polarize the neighboors more than infill already does. I think the best thing about these designs is they are warm and connect on a human level without resorting to faux historic architecture.

Now I'd like to see some crazy stuff in the Llyod or central east side between MLK and SE 14th. That area has very little existing housing and could be very cool with some more radical designs (think Jumptown Tower proposal).

[Fred]

FWIW, Steve Beaven pronounces his last name to rhyme with "heaven," not Steven.

[Mervin]

The Backbridge Lofts are going to suck ass!!! Go back to California!!

[Brian Libby]

Mervin, it's OK to have criticism, but it'd be more effective if you didn't sound like a 13 year old bigot.

[ModDesigner]

44th & Division is a Holst Architecture project not PATH--just to set the record straight. Another similar project is going up at 26th & Division called the Clinton Condominiums (under construction now). The mix of wood slats, light/white colored stucco are aesthetically calming. I am personally excited to see what BOTH these firms do next.

[sh]

They've pulled the plug on Backbridge Station. The project is killed.