The Irvington Community Association has been at odds for a couple of years now with the developer of a project at 1510 NE Hancock. The project is a proposed condo building, the issue is not should it be built but how tall it should be and what are the setbacks.
The Proposed building is 64 feet tall with minimal setbacks, 0 feet from the curb on one side and 11 feet on the other. These setbacks could harm existing trees on the site. The community is hoping for an 18-foot setback to maintain a visual corridor. Residents aren't against a high-density building; they knew one was going to be built. They just want it to conform to the historic district guidelines.
The problem is two conflicting codes. The zoning codes allow for a building 75 feet tall, while the historic district guidelines limit the height to 54 feet. It's not clear which code takes precedence. The decision is significant because it not only applies to Irvington but also Ladd's Addition and NW District.
The developer says he's not sure that a short building be financially feasible given that the project is high-end condos. He might consider building apartments on the site.
Historic Districts are designated as such to preserve their unique nature. It's always a difficult balance designing a new project in a historic district. Even though the building seems to fit in terms of design, scale is just as important. Historic district guidelines are created for a reason and, in my opinion, should take precedence over zoning codes.
The Portland Landmarks Commission meets Sept. 22nd, 1:30PM, 1900 SW 4th Ave. Room 2500-A to hear final testimonies from both sides before making its final decision.
There has been a lot written about this issue. Here are links to some great background information:
