A denser Kings Hill?!?!? The Allegra's only the begining!

pdxskyline · #1 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 2:18 AM**

Stopped into Sienna Architects at the Commonwealth Building today. I found THIS in the entry:

As you can see, there's the Allegra on the right, and several really neat towers on the blocks adjacent.

I was told that this was the "updated" model. Freakin' Sweeet!

Looks like the Oregonian bunker and a bunch of other minor stuff are finally going to go away.

Dougall5505 · #2 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 2:33 AM**

great news! those are some crazy looking towers. shhh...don't tell the nimbys

pdxman · #3 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 3:04 AM**

NJD · #4 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 3:44 AM**

wow, true deconstructivist architecture in Stumptown? ... ... ... hopefully there will be some variety in those buildings or it might end up looking like the proposed Gehry globs in Brooklyn... anyway, great looking density.

pdx2m2 · #5 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 3:55 AM**

I think this 18th corridor has great potential to be more dense. I"m not sure if most of these models are 'real' projects. The owner on the north half of the Allegro block was 'considering' joining and doing a tower adjacent to the Allegro. Not sure if this reflects that owner really going ahead or just Sienna dreaming about the potential.

In any event the tower on the north half of the Allegro block looks really cramped..I wouldn't want to live in either building and be looking into a 15 story light well that's 60' wide...If this is real it's a good example of the lack of planning...the two owners refusing to work together (either at all or until the last minute) and the final two towers therefore having little or no relationship to each other. Had the developers worked together they could have done a taller tower with the same density and much better light and views.

I would love to hear from someone at Sienna although I suspect the models of towers north of the Allegro block on the Oregonian site are just dream models...or reflect a vision....I"m not aware of any deals to get those blocks developed yet.

65MAX · #6 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 6:59 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by pdx2m2

In any event the tower on the north half of the Allegro block looks really cramped..I wouldn't want to live in either building and be looking into a 15 story light well that's 60' wide...

It looks like the towers are staggered, corner to corner, so residents aren't going to feel any more cramped than they would on the inside corner of an L-shaped tower. Actually, where the two corners come together could be quite dynamic if done right. I hope both towers get built.

der Reisender · #7 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 7:21 AM**

"I think this 18th corridor has great potential to be more dense"

could not agree more. add to the fact that it is weighted with large-scale attractions like the MAC and PGE Park, plus the MAX stops, and the ingredients are all there for a great neighborhood street. It is located nicely between the uphill part of the neighborhood and the flatter blocks between 18th and 405.

i'm looking forward to the completion of the Civic project and the Jefferson Condos at the two 'bookends' of the street, and for the Allegro to start in the center. That area has long seemed underdeveloped and it seems ripe with potential to explode in the next decade.

as for the model, i hope we get some more larger towers, but a mixture of densities would be good as well. Down with the Oregonian bunker, up with the Manhattan

pdxskyline · #8 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 8:16 AM**

I got the impression that this model is their vision of what that area will look like. When they said "updated", I assume there were other plans afoot, and this is the latest refinement. I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd say that they are working on just the Allegra at this time, and whoever is developing this area will use it to push for the rest of the plan. The developer(s) may have commissioned Sienna to do the rest of the planned buildings there. After all, why the heck waste money and time designing models of something that has not even a remote chance of getting built?

Doesn't the Oregonian want to get rid of the bunker? There's been tons of talk, and an abortive attempt (leading to a massive empty lot off Yeon) to consolidate their printing ops up in NW Industrial. The Bunker really isn't situated perfectly for an industrial purpose, esp with the residential density increasing around it and not-so-good access to the freeway system, and lots of local streets and MAX on all sides. Watch what the Big O does. If they start construction on something big elsewhere, then this may well indeed happen. Who knows, maybe they've got a secret deal in the works: cash for a relocated bunker.

pdx2m2 · #9 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 4:08 PM**

I agree that this 18th corridor will become more dense with new development.

I also agree with pdxskyline that this model is a vision and a marketing tool to help attract other clients. The owner of the north half of the block could be working with Sienna. They were talking to other architects recently and may have finally decided to join the Allegro group although it's unfortunate that this is happening so late. The opportunity was lost to do a whole block development which would have been much better than what's shown in the model.

I agree with 65max that the corner (northwest corner) could be good. My concern is that these towers are essentially two east west bars on the same block. The inside faces of the units appear to be essentially facing each other in a light well type space.

I think the northern blocks shown in the model could come into play eventually..it's just a matter of time.

MarkDaMan · #10 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 4:11 PM**

Thanks PDXSkyline, this would be interesting to see in Portland. It seems like the building next to the Allegro is beyond just a hope, a lot of money must have been spent to create that model, the other blocks look to be speculative though.

I can't imagine that the Goose Hollow neighborhood association wouldn't object though.

Urbanpdx · #11 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 5:20 PM**

Do you guys know who owns the North half of the block?

pdx2m2 · #12 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 8:08 PM**

The north half of the block is owned by at least two owners although it's my understanding is that Dan Petrusich of Melvin Mark is or was coordinating the half block development. He was also considering joining the Allegro developers to co-develop the entire block.

Dan also may own property to the north or northeast of this block.

zilfondel · #13 Posted: **Mar 7, 2007, 8:28 PM**

oh. my. god.

Urbanpdx · #14 Posted: **Mar 8, 2007, 12:23 AM**

That is interesting, Mark is a real player. Thanks for the info PDXM2M.