Compatible but not caricature: Landmarks Commission approves Goose Hollow row houses infil

Rendering courtesy Argo Architect

BY FRED LEESON

The design solution would not be easy. For starters, the site at 2004-2010 SW Madison Street slopes downhill in two directions. It also sits in a corner of Portland’s Kings Hill Historic District, meaning that the design would have to be compatible with, but not a replica of, older buildings in the district, mostly erected between 1882 and 1942.

And because the new plan would have to be approved by the Portland Historic Landmarks Commission, two or more public hearings likely would be needed to reach a design satisfactory to the city’s historic design review body. Add to the stew: another developer, back in 1997, once proposed a seven story building that was fought by the Goose Hollow Foothills League (without success) at both the Landmarks Commission and the state Land Use Board of Appeals. For whatever reason, it was never built.

Well, new problem solved – with surprising speed.

Beaverton architect Ted Argo presented plans for two row houses, covered by a single hipped roof form with dormers and pediments over the front doors. The bottom floor is encased with cedar lap siding and the upper floor and dormers with cedar shingles.  Brick veneer wraps the concrete foundation. Unlike plans for most new buildings in historic districts, Argo’s plan for Encore Homes won approval in a single brief public hearing.

Based on a recommendation from David Skilton, Argo didn’t bother with an advisory session before submitting plans for approval. “I felt pretty good about where we got,” Skilton told the commission at the meeting’s start.

Rear of proposed project (rendering courtesy Argo Architect)

“We knew we did not want copies of existing buildings, but there are compatible precedents,” Argo said. He took advantage of the slope to tuck off-street parking under the building.

Jerry Powell, a veteran planning committee member of the Goose Hollow Foothills League, criticized the plan, albeit with some reluctance. “It’s difficult to sit here and say I like it but I don’t like it,” he said.  Powell said he felt it lacked “a certain amount of grace,” and said he thought the small front porches looked “kind of tacked on.”

But Argo’s plan drew little criticism from the landmarks commission. Brian Emerick, an architect-member of the review body, called it “a good infill design in keeping with the district without being a replica.” He added that he wasn’t “wild” about the exterior color scheme, but noted that the commission does not review color choices. “On balance, I think it will be a strong contribution to the neighborhood and a strong development,”  Emerick said. The plan was approved by a 4-0 vote.

The vacant site was once home to an Arts and Crafts era apartment building that burned many years ago.  Powell, the Goose Hollow representative, said, “The whole neighborhood is sighing with relief that finally there will be a building on that corner instead of a tent camp.”

 

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Comments

[Daniel Ronan]

Can you please tell me how this fits in with the character of the Goose Hollow neighborhood? It's massing might suggest an apartment building, but only two units are incorporated in this entire structure. How is this at all sustainable? To me it seems like adapting a suburban lifestyle - building materials and all - to the urban setting. I'm interested to hear your thoughts.

[Fred Leeson]

Maybe I'm not the right person to answer, but I'd say roof forms, massing, siding materials, double-hung windows and window framing.

[Lucas Gray]

That design is hideous and a terrible addition to the Portland urban fabric. I hate how developers are afraid to build contemporary architecture. Try something new and exciting. Hire a progressive architecture team. Good design doesn't have to cost more.

[Facebook]

Lucas, I'm wondering if you are being sarcastic, or missed the article.
Since this building is within a Historic District, it must go through design review that effectively eliminates contemporary architecture.

Part of the irony of the Historic District is that it intends for existing buildings to reflect their period, and in doing so, it prevents new buildings from reflecting their period.

PS - not sure why I'm called 'Facebook'. I logged in through it, and my name is Greg Moulliet