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Ecoflats, a sustainable mixed-use apartment complex, planned at 3935 North Williams will cater to bikers and those individuals who prefer a more sustainable lifestyle.
The project is located on the Williams/Vancouver corridor—a major bike and bus route—making it easy for residents to use alternative transportation. Ecoflats' central location responds to Portland's need for more dense, affordable and neighborhood-friendly housing. The 21-unit building will be located a scant block north of the develpment housing Lincoln, Hipcooks, Ristretto Roasters, Cha Cha Cha, and Ink & Peat—not to mention close proximity to other wonderful businesses that dot North Williams. Ecoflats will sit two blocks north of The Albert Apartments, a 72-unit project by RUJAX LLC.
The existing structure, which houses an auto shop and lawn mower repair shop, will be demolished and any raw materials that can be salvaged will be recycled.
Meet the Developer
This is the first solo project for developor Jean-Pierre Veillet. His firm Siteworks has constructed both residential and commercial projects, including Andina, Hiroshi, Alchemy, and Fife. When asked why he wants to develop a green, bike-friendly building, Veillet explained, "This is something I have been very motivated to do for quite a long time. I believe people who use alternative modes of transportation, such as bikes, should be rewarded for their choice."
Veillet says his roles as both the developer and builder have their advantages, such as being able to make decisions more quickly and without the necessity of convincing others. Being the developer also adds complexity to the project. Veillet is currently working with banks to finance the project and says it is challenging to have banks understand the added value of the green design used in this project.
One design choice banks find challenging is the lack of an elevator. An elevator is expensive to install and maintain. Not having one reduces construction and maintenance costs, which helps keep rents affordable and reduces the energy requirements. Banks, however, want to see an elevator in the design, because that will make the project accessible to more people. Veillet is working hard to convince banks that the building's green design choices will meet the large and growing market of people who believe in making sustainable lifestyle choices.
The project is located within the Interstate Corridor Urban Renewal District and will receive a 20-year, 3% interest loan from the Portland Development Commission for up to 20% of the development costs. Veillet will also pursue Oregon Energy Trust incentives and Business Energy Tax Credits. The incentives will reduce costs, which will help Veillet meet his target rents.
Sustainable Features
The project will house 21 apartments and two commercial units at street level. The building will occupy only the front half of the 12,000 square foot lot; the back will be used as an outdoor gathering space for residents and an urban garden. The roof will contain a 3000 square foot photovoltaic grid that will generate 21KW of electricity. The goal is to have a net zero energy use for the residential portion of the building. Viellet will apply for LEED Gold project certification, but has the possibility to satisfy LEED Platinum requirements.
Other major features of the building design include:
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Shared hydronic heat system [hot water]
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East/West building orientation for cross ventilation, and reducing southern exposure
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Large windows to provide natural light
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Stairways and corridors are on the building exterior, which reduces energy requirements because they do not need to be heated or cooled.
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Windows are placed at both ends of each unit to provide natural light throughout the day and cross-ventilation.
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A high efficiency boiler will supply heat through a closed loop system that supplies hot water to baseboard hydronic radiators. The water will be returned to the boiler and reheated only for the amount lost.
- Stormwater will be collected and fed into the garden to infiltrate water back into the water table.
Typical Unit
One-bedroom apartments at Ecoflats will be approximately 600 square feet and offer energy efficient appliances. Ceiling heights will be 10 feet high at the entrance, and step down to 8 feet as you move to the back of the unit. By alternating unit entraces from front to back, this design is replicated on each floor. Current plans have 9-foot ceilings throughout the top floor. Should an elevator be required there will be two 2-bedroom units on the top floor. Rents are estimated to be $895 for 1-bedroom units and $1155 for 2-bedroom units, but final pricing has not been set.
Not-So-Typical Amenities
bike-friendly Veillet has designed Ecoflats with the bike community in mind. The project will offer these bike-friendly features:
- bike lockers on each floor, so residents won't have to store their bikes in their unit
- An on-site bike maintenance room for resident use.
- Stairways will feature wheel troughs, which will allow bikes to be easily rolled up and down stairs.
on site developer/builder, restaurant and urban garden Once the building is complete, Siteworks will relocate its office, currently in the Pearl District, to one of the commercial units. Peter Platt, co-founder of Andina, plans to put a restaurant called Curious Jorge in the other commercial space. Platt wants to connect an urban farm with a restaurant, and will be using the garden behind the building to grow vegetables for his restaurant. Ecoflats residents will have access to roughly 6,000 feet of outdoor space.
Ecoflats is currently in Type II design review, pending an administrative decision. The land use proposal was mailed to property owners within 150 feet of the project site and to the Boise Neighborhood Association for comment. Please read the land use proposal for more information on the design review process.
I received this project timeline from the developer: start demolition in late July or early August. Building permit would be obtained in August. Expect to complete construction by the end of summer 2010.
There is no Cha Cha Cha within 2 miles of here...what are you referring to?
Cha Cha Cha signed a lease (at the end of May) for a 1,350 sq ft space at 3808 N. Williams.
i like the project. I have to ask without an elevator how will you be able to meet ADA? Especially in rental units where the laws are less forgiving. Without a pro-rata share shown adaptable or accessible then you are creating a project that excludes some of the population, rather than be inclusive. i noticed one ground floor unit - does that cover you? peter platt would be a great partner, i understand he has some interesting thoughts in regards to culinary experience and sustainability.
I love the green, bike friendly features. But omitting an elevator discriminates against wheelchair users and other people with disabilities who might also like to live on the upper floors. So it reduces rents -- what's the price of justice? It's unfair to lower some rents by a few dollars by excluding disabled Portlanders. Maybe the developer could reduce his profits a bit instead. Regardless of what the ADA says, the city of Portland shouldn't allow new projects to participate in this kind of blatant discrimination, nor should Portlanders support it.
@ka Thanks for the question about the elevator and ADA. We've emailed the developer and hope to have an answer soon.
@brett We think the green, bike-friendly features are great, but are also curious about the ADA/elevator situation. We're optimistic that there's something more to the story than blatant discrimination. Hopefully, we'll have an answer soon. :-)
We received the following from the developer regarding ADA:
"The ADA unit requirement is met for this size building with the ground floor unit. Not having an elevator also creates the ability to have small units that are affordable for most. This segment of the population something we want to support too.
Peter is a rare and gentle genius of many things - JP"
What if the residents of the second floor have a guest with a disability? So one apartment only is ADA? Not what I call "supporting this segment of the population." I don't care how eco-friendly the building is, its not very disability-friendly. That's not quite as hip, though, is it?
@not impressed The current design meets ADA requirements for buildings of its size. If an elevator is required to finance the project, the developer will include it. [Typical Unit: "Should an elevator be required there will be two 2-bedroom units on the top floor."]
I understand that it meets the letter of the law regarding ADA requirements. What I find disappointing is that development on a new building is not willing to cut into profits to make said building truly accessible to people with disabilities. Here are some of the unfair situations that can- and will- arise because of stair-only access to the second floor.
-no persons with disabilities will be able to access upper apartments. That means not only residents, but guests. If you live up there, you better hope that nothing ever happens to you, your parents, or friends, that causes a disability, temporary or otherwise. Ever broken a leg in an accident? It happens. If it happens to you and you live up there, you're not getting home without a great deal of pain and trouble.
-how about parents who use strollers? You will be either making two unwieldy trips up and down the stairs, leaving a baby alone while you get the stroller, leaving your stroller parked downstairs unattended (something tells me there will not be secure stroller parking) or making a horrible trip with baby in one arm and stroller in the other. Unsafe, difficult, and definitely not family-friendly.
-how about moving? Hope nobody on the second floor ever wants to move a couch, bed, or other heavy item of furniture with ease. You'll be lugging those things, and any other heavy thing, up the steps.
I've lived in pre-war buildings where there is no elevator; the inconvenience is something that you accept because the building was built before society was aware that discrimination against persons with disabilities is not acceptable.
Basically, the developer is building a non family-friendly, non-disability-friendly, non-accessible building. Its one thing to live with lack of access in an old building. Quite another to create such a building.