[Rhome]

In that same permit report there's something about a new 6-story building on the block south of the MAC parking garage (used to be full of victorian houses until the MAC tore them down about 10 years ago). SW 19th/Main.

The MAC owns that block and sought an RFP with a developer to develop additional parking for MAC members. The proposal is to give the block to a developer for new apartments in exchange for 225 parking spots (they better be buried!) and 15 overnight hotel spaces (many older athletic clubs have overnight accomodations for its members and guests -- the MAC does not have this). While current zoning allows parking for residents of the apartments, it does not yet allow additional parking dedicated for an adjacent corporate entity (e.g. the MAC) -- thus the needed zoning change. The NW Examiner story (page 21) is here:

MAC plans garage/apartment building

A long vacant block on the southern edge of the Multnomah Athletic Club campus will become a shared-use parking structure and 200-unit apartment building.

The club has signed an agreement with Sam Rodriguez of Mill Creek Residential Trust to develop Block 7, bounded by Southwest 19th, 20th, Madison and Main streets. MAC General Manager Norm Rich said the project is motivated largely by demand for more parking for club members.

“I just get pounded on a regular basis on parking,” said Rich, noting that the club’s board of directors has run out of patience with the ongoing problem.

The six-story building will have three parking levels, at least one of them underground. In addition to one level of parking for apartment residents, 225 stalls on two levels will be devoted to MAC users. There will also be about 15 hotel rooms for MAC visitors.

Due to what would be considered commercial parking, a zone change will be required, said Rich, a process that could take a year.

He said it would be good for the neighborhood because it will relieve on-street parking demand and traffic congestion.