PORTLAND, Ore. – A 98-year-old downtown office building will be torn down to make way for new development stretching up to 19 stories.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Located at 1437 SW Broadway, the two-story brick building was constructed in 1917.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Oregonians Credit Union, which opened in the downtown building in 1960 to serve The Oregonian newspaper employees, closed in January. Lower transaction volume following the newspaper’s downsizing and move into different offices played into the decision to close the branch, as did the shift to online banking.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
In late July the county recorded a sale of the property from Oregonians Federal Credit Union to Front & Pine LLC, for $1.45 million.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Front & Pine LLC is registered to Mark G LLC and Greg G LLC, which in turn are registered to Mark Goodman and Gregory Goodman. The vacant properties on the block are all owned by Generations Columbia Property LLC, also registered to Gregory Goodman.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The month of the sale, the city received a design advice request application for a commercial high-rise. The building is proposed to be 19 stories and to include hotel, office and retail use. Four levels of parking are proposed beneath the tower. Phil Beyl of GBD Architects is the listed applicant.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The $70 million tower would cover the eastern half of the block in its first phase, with future plans to build on the vacant northwest quarter of the block in a subsequent phase.
Rendering from design advice application
On Aug. 10 the city received an application to demolish the 98-year-old credit union building. The permit was issued the same day, as commercial demolitions are generally not subject to a delay requirement.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
The design advice hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Nov. 5 at 1900 SW 4th Ave., Room 2500A.
The 98-year-old building is across the street from the University Station Post Office demolition that took place in January.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Expanded facilities for St. Mary’s Academy, located across Southwest Sixth Street from the site, are planned to replace the post office.
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle
Photo credit: Portland Chronicle